Active engagement system for engaging a snowboard boot to a binding

ABSTRACT

One embodiment is directed to a system for mounting a rider to a snowboard. The system comprises a snowboard boot; a snowboard binding; a first engagement member; and a second engagement member; wherein one of the first and second engagement members is mounted to the sole of the snowboard boot forward of the arch area and the other is mounted to the binding. The first engagement is adapted to mate with the second engagement member to releasably engage the snowboard boot to the binding. The first engagement member is an active engagement that is automatically movable, in response to the rider stepping out of the binding, from a closed position to an open position. Another embodiment is directed to a snowboard boot for use with a binding including a pair of spaced apart engagement members. The snowboard boot includes a cleat adapted to be releasably engaged by the pair of spaced apart engagement members. At least one of side of the cleat tapers inwardly from a wider base-end portion to a narrower free-end portion so that the cleat separates the pair of spaced apart engagement members when the snowboard boot steps into the binding. The engagement system can be reversed so that the pair of spaced members are on the boot and the cleat is on the binding.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is a continuation of provisionalapplications serial Nos. 60/044,715 and 60/044,716 filed Apr. 18, 1997,of provisional application serial No. 60/051,703 filed Jul. 3, 1997, andof regular application Ser. No. 08/887,530, filed Jul. 3, 1997.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed generally to the filed bootsand bindings for gliding sports, and more particularly, to the field ofsnowboard boots and bindings.

[0003] Description of the Related Art

[0004] Specially configured boards for gliding along a terrain areknown, such as snowboards, snow skis, water skis, wake boards, surfboards and the like. For purposes of this patent, “gliding board” willrefer generally to any of the foregoing boards as well as to otherboard-type devices which allow a rider to traverse a surface. For easeof understanding, however, and without limiting the scope of theinvention, the inventive boot, binding and interface systems for agliding board to which this patent is addressed is discussed belowparticularly in connection with a snowboard. However, it should beappreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect,and that the aspects of the present invention described below can beused in association with other types of gliding boards.

[0005] Conventional snowboard binding systems used with soft snowboardboots are one of two general types. A first type, known as a traybinding, typically includes a rigid high-back piece against which theheel of the boot is placed, and one or more straps that secure the bootto the binding. Such bindings can be somewhat inconvenient to usebecause after each run, the rider must unbuckle each strap of the rearbinding to release the boot when getting on the chairlift, and mustre-buckle each strap before the next run. To address those convenienceconcerns, a second type of binding known as a step-in binding has beendeveloped that typically does not employ straps, but rather includes oneor more strapless engagement members into which the rider can step tolock the boot into the binding. Some of these systems include a handleor lever that must be actuated to move one of the engagement membersinto and out of engagement with the snowboard boot, and therefore, arenot automatically actuated by the rider stepping into the binding.Furthermore, most step-in systems include a metal engagement member onthe binding and a corresponding metal engagement member on the boot,such that when the boot is engaged with the binding, it is held rigidlyinto the binding by the metal-to-metal engagement interface.

[0006] Many riders are unhappy with conventional step-in bindings fortwo reasons. First, most step-in bindings do not have the feel of aconventional tray binding when riding. In particular, the straps inconventional tray bindings allow the rider's foot to roll laterally whenriding, which is a characteristic desired by many riders. In contrast,the rigid metal-to-metal interface employed in most step-in systemsbetween the boot and binding does not allow for any foot roll, whichresults in a ride having a feel that many riders find to beunacceptable. A second problem with most step-in systems is that theboot includes a rigid sole, making the boot very uncomfortable to walkin. In addition, many step-in systems include a relatively large metalplate attached to the sole of the boot for interfacing with the binding,which further reduces the comfort of the boot when walking.

[0007] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved system for engaging a snowboard boot toa snowboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] One embodiment of the invention is directed to a system formounting a rider to a snowboard. The system comprises a snowboard bootto receive a foot of the rider, the snowboard boot including an outersole having a heel area, an arch area and a toe area; a snowboardbinding to be mounted to the snowboard; and an interface having at leastone mating feature adapted to be releasably engaged by the snowboardbinding, the interface further including at least one strap adapted tomount the interface to the snowboard boot. The outer sole of thesnowboard boot includes a recess rearward of the arch area that isadapted to receive the interface so that the interface does not protrudebelow the outer sole when the interface is mounted to the snowboardboot.

[0009] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an interfacefor use in a system for mounting a rider to a snowboard, the systemcomprising a snowboard binding to be mounted to the snowboard, asnowboard boot, and the interface. The interface comprises a body havingat least one mating feature adapted to be releasably engaged by thesnowboard binding, the body further including a base that is adapted topass under the sole of the snowboard boot, the base having a non-planarcontoured upper surface that is adapted to fit within a recess in a soleof the snowboard boot; and at least one strap, supported by the body,adapted to mount the interface to the snowboard boot.

[0010] A further embodiment of the invention is directed to a system formounting a rider to a snowboard. The system comprises a snowboard bootto receive a foot of the rider; a snowboard binding to be mounted to thesnowboard; and an interface having at least one strap adapted to mountthe interface to the snowboard boot, the interface further including atleast one mating feature adapted to be releasably engaged by thesnowboard binding, the at least one mating feature including at leastone engagement pin that extends outwardly from medial and lateral sidesof the interface and is circular in cross-section.

[0011] A further embodiment of the invention is directed to an interfacefor engaging a snowboard boot to a snowboard binding. The interfacecomprises a body having at least one mating feature adapted to bereleasably engaged by the snowboard binding, the at least one matingfeature including at least one engagement pin that extends outwardlyfrom medial and lateral sides of the interface and is circular incross-section; and at least one strap, supported by the body, adapted tomount the interface to the snowboard boot.

[0012] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a system formounting a rider to a snowboard. The system comprises a snowboard bootto receive a foot of the rider, the snowboard boot including a solehaving a recess; a snowboard binding to be mounted to the snowboard; andan interface. The interface has a body including a base that is adaptedto pass under the sole of the snowboard boot, the base having anon-planar contoured upper surface that is adapted to fit within therecess in the sole of the snowboard boot; at least one mating featurethat is supported by the body and is adapted to be releasably engaged bythe snowboard binding; and at least one strap that is supported by thebody and is adapted to mount the interface to the snowboard boot.

[0013] A further embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboardbinding to mount a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard bindingcomprising a base having a toe end and a heel end; and a guide,supported by the base, that is adapted to guide the snowboard boot backtoward the heel end of the base when the snowboard boot is stepped intothe binding.

[0014] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboardbinding comprising a baseplate; a heel hoop mounted to the baseplate,the heel hoop being hinged for rotation relative to the baseplate abouta first axis; and a high-back supported by the heel hoop.

[0015] A further embodiment of the invention is directed a snowboardbinding to mount a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard bootincluding at least one pin extending from medial and lateral sidesthereof. The snowboard binding comprises a base having medial andlateral sides; a pair of engagement cams each mounted to one of themedial and lateral sides of the base for rotation between a closedposition to engage the at least one pin and an open position to releasethe at least one pin; at least one lever that is adapted to move thepair of engagement cams from the closed position to the open position;and a cocking mechanism that is adapted to maintain the pair ofengagement cams in the open position upon release of the at least onelever.

[0016] A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to asystem for mounting a rider to a snowboard. The system comprises asnowboard boot having a sole including a heel area, an arch area and atoe area; a snowboard binding; a first engagement member; and a secondengagement member; wherein one of the first and second engagementmembers is mounted to the sole of the snowboard boot forward of the archarea and the other of the first and second engagement members is mountedto the binding; wherein the first engagement is adapted to mate with thesecond engagement member to releasably engage the snowboard boot to thebinding; and wherein the first engagement member is an active engagementmember that is movable between a first state wherein the firstengagement member does not engage the second engagement member and asecond state wherein the first engagement member engages the secondengagement member to inhibit lifting of the toe area of the boot fromthe binding during riding, and wherein the active engagement member isautomatically movable, in response to the rider stepping out of thebinding, from the second state to the first state.

[0017] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboardboot adapted for use with a binding to mount the snowboard boot to asnowboard, the binding including a pair of spaced apart engagementmembers. The snowboard boot comprises a sole; and a cleat having a basethat is supported by the sole, the cleat being adapted to be releasablyengaged by the pair of spaced apart engagement members, the cleatincluding medial and lateral sides, wherein at least one of the medialand lateral sides tapers inwardly from a wider base-end portion of thecleat adjacent the base to a narrower free-end portion of the cleat awayfrom the base, the at least one of the medial and lateral sides beingadapted to separate the pair of spaced apart engagement members when thesnowboard boot steps into the binding.

[0018] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboardboot adapted for use with a binding to mount the snowboard boot to asnowboard, the binding including a first engagement member. Thesnowboard boot comprises a sole; and a second engagement membersupported by the sole, the second engagement member including engagementmeans for releasably engaging the first engagement member, theengagement means including means for automatically disengaging from thefirst engagement member in response to the snowboard boot stepping outof engagement with the binding.

[0019] A further embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboardbinding to mount a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard bootincluding a first engagement member. The snowboard binding comprises abase; and a second engagement member, mounted to the base, that isadapted to mate with the first engagement member to releasably engagethe snowboard boot to the binding, the second engagement member being anactive engagement member that is movable between a first state whereinthe second engagement member does not engage the first engagement memberand a second state wherein the second engagement member engages thefirst engagement member to inhibit lifting of the boot from the bindingduring riding, and wherein the active engagement member is automaticallymovable, in response to the rider stepping out of the binding, from thesecond state to the first state.

[0020] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method ofinterfacing a first engagement member on a snowboard boot with a secondengagement member on a snowboard binding that is engageable with thefirst engagement member to mount the snowboard boot to a snowboard,wherein at least one of the first and second engagement members is anactive engagement member that is moveable between an open position and aclosed position. The method comprises a step of stepping the snowboardboot out of the snowboard binding so that the active engagement memberautomatically moves from the closed position to the open positionwithout operating a lever on the snowboard boot or the snowboardbinding, so that the first engagement member is disengaged from thesecond engagement member.

[0021] A further embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboardboot for use in a system for mounting a rider to a snowboard, the systemcomprising a snowboard binding to be mounted to the snowboard and aninterface having at least one mating feature adapted to be releasablyengaged by the snowboard binding, the interface including at least onestrap adapted to releasably mount the interface to the snowboard boot.The snowboard boot comprises a boot upper; and a sole including a heelarea, an arch area and a toe area, the sole further including a recess,disposed rearwardly of the arch area, that is adapted to receive theinterface so that the interface does not protrude below the sole whenthe interface is mounted to the snowboard boot.

[0022] A further embodiment of the invention is directed to a snowboardboot for use in a system for mounting a rider to a snowboard, the systemcomprising a snowboard binding to be mounted to the snowboard and aninterface including at least one mating feature adapted to be releasablyengaged by the snowboard binding, the interface further including a basethat is adapted to pass under the sole of the snowboard boot, the basehaving a non-planar contoured upper surface, the interface furtherincluding at least one strap that is adapted to releasably mount theinterface to the snowboard boot. The snowboard boot comprises a bootupper; and a sole including a recess periphery that defines a recessadapted to receive the interface, the recess periphery including atleast one bottom-facing non-planar contoured surface that is adapted tomate with the non-planar contoured upper surface of the interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one illustrative embodiment of aninterface for engaging a snowboard boot to a binding;

[0024]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the interface of FIG. 1and a binding compatible therewith;

[0025]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodimentof an interface according to the present invention, as well as oneillustrative embodiment of a binding in accordance with the presentinvention;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a top view of the binding of FIG. 3;

[0027]FIG. 5 is cross-sectional view, taking along line 5-5 of FIG. 4,of the binding of FIG. 4 engaging the interface of FIG. 3;

[0028]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken along line 6-6of FIG. 5, of the binding and interface of FIG. 3;

[0029]FIG. 7 is a detailed side view, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6,showing the rear locking mechanism of the binding of FIG. 3;

[0030]FIG. 8 is a detailed cross-sectional view, taken along line 8-8 ofFIG. 7, of the rear locking mechanism of the binding of FIG. 3;

[0031]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic side view of the interfaceand the binding of FIG. 3;

[0032]FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the rear lockingmechanism of the binding of FIG. 3 with the interface stepping into thebinding;

[0033]FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of the rear lockingmechanism of the binding of FIG. 3 with the interface stepping furtherinto but not yet locked by the rear locking mechanism of the binding;

[0034]FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the rear lockingmechanism of the binding of FIG. 3 with the interface engaged thereby,but not yet fully seated therein;

[0035]FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of the rear lockingmechanism of the binding of FIG. 3 with the interface substantiallyfully seated therein;

[0036]FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of the rear lockingmechanism of the binding of FIG. 3 in the release position;

[0037]FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodimentof an interface, binding and boot according to the present invention;

[0038]FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the lateral side of the bootof FIG. 15 with the interface attached thereto;

[0039]FIG. 17 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken along line17-17 of FIG. 16, illustrating the engagement between the interface andboot sole of FIG. 15.

[0040]FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional detailed view, taken along line 18-18in FIG. 17, of the alignment between the interface and the boot of FIG.15;

[0041]FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional detailed view of the engagementbetween the interface and boot taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 17;

[0042]FIG. 20 is a partial side elevational view of the rear lockingmechanism of the binding of FIG. 15 taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 15;

[0043]FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional plan view of the rear lockingmechanism taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

[0044]FIG. 22 is a partially broken away side view of the rear lockingmechanism taken along line 22-22 of FIG. 21;

[0045]FIG. 23 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 22, but showing theopen position of the locking mechanism in solid lines and a partiallyopen position in phantom lines;

[0046]FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective detailed view of the forwardengagement mechanisms on the boot and binding of FIG. 15;

[0047]FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 25-25 of FIG.24, showing the toe hook mechanism of the boot and binding of FIG. 15;

[0048]FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 25, but with thetoe-hook on the boot fully engaged with the engagement mechanism on thebinding;

[0049]FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional plan view of the forward engagementmechanism taken along line 27-27 of FIG. 26;

[0050]FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional side view of the forward engagementmechanism taken along line 28-28 of FIG. 26;

[0051]FIG. 29 is a schematic side view of the toe hook of FIG. 15releasing from the toe hook mechanism;

[0052]FIG. 30 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of the toe hookreleasing from the latching mechanism;

[0053]FIG. 31 is a bottom plan view of the toe hook mechanism of FIG.15;

[0054]FIG. 32 is a side schematic representation of an alternateembodiment of an active toe hook locking mechanism;

[0055]FIG. 33 is a side schematic representation of the boot steppinginto the toe hook locking mechanism of FIG. 32;

[0056]FIG. 34 is a bottom schematic representation of a boot includingan engagement member for a toe hook locking mechanism;

[0057]FIG. 35 is cross-sectional view, taken along line 35-35 of FIG.34;

[0058]FIG. 36 is a bottom schematic representation of an alternate bootwith an engagement member for engaging with a toe hook lockingmechanism;

[0059]FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 37-37 of FIG.36;

[0060]FIG. 38 is a partially broken away perspective representation of abinding including a sculpted toe hook;

[0061]FIG. 39 is a bottom schematic representation of a boot includingan engagement feature for mating with the sculpted toe hook of FIG. 38;

[0062]FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 40-40 of FIG.39;

[0063]FIG. 41 is a bottom schematic representation of a boot includingan engagement member for engaging with a toe hook locking mechanism, anda plug covering the engagement member;

[0064]FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing a snowboard boot with apatch covering a recess in which an engagement member for a toe hooklatching mechanism can be installed;

[0065]FIG. 43 is a schematic representation of an alternateimplementation of an engagement member compatible with a sculpted toehook such as the one shown in FIG. 38;

[0066]FIG. 44 is a bottom perspective view of the engagement member ofFIG. 43 mounted to the sole of a snowboard boot;

[0067]FIG. 45 is a side schematic representation of an alternateembodiment of an active toe hook in the open position; and

[0068]FIG. 46 is a side schematic representation of the active lockingmechanism of FIG. 45 in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0069] One aspect of the present invention is directed to an improvedstep-in binding. Another aspect of the invention is directed to aninterface system for interfacing a snowboard boot to a binding. Althoughthese two aspects of the present invention are advantageously employedtogether in accordance with several illustrative embodiments of theinvention, the present invention is not limited in this respect, as eachof these aspects of the present invention can also be employedseparately. For example, the binding aspect of the present invention canbe employed to directly engage a snowboard boot, rather than engaging asnowboard boot through the use of a separate interface. Similarly, theinterface aspects of the present invention can be employed with numeroustypes of bindings, and are not limited to use with the illustrativeembodiments disclosed herein.

[0070] One illustrative embodiment of an interface 1 in accordance withthe present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-2. The interface 1includes a body 3 and at least one strap 5 that is arranged to bedisposed about the ankle area of the snowboard boot 7, which is shownschematically in FIGS. 1-2. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, thestrap 5 includes a ratchet-type buckle 9 to enable adjustment of thestrap. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention isnot limited to the use of any particular type of strap, as numerousother strap arrangements can be employed. As will be appreciated fromthe description below, the strap performs the function of attaching theinterface 1 to the snowboard boot 7 in a manner that enables the sole ofthe snowboard boot 7 to roll relative to the interface during riding.Thus, as used herein, the term strap is intended to indicate anystructure that passes over the boot upper and performs this attachmentfunction, including web-like structures, bails, etc.

[0071] The body 3 of the interface will typically include one or moremating features adapted to engage with a corresponding straplessengagement member on a step-in binding. As stated above, the interfaceaspect of the present invention is not limited to use with anyparticular binding, and therefore, is not limited to the use of anyparticular engagement features for engaging with a binding. In theillustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, the interface 3 is providedwith a pair of recesses 11 formed on each lateral side of the binding inaccordance with the teachings of U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/584,053, which is incorporated herein by reference. It should beappreciated that alternate arrangements are possible to accomplishengagement between the interface 3 and the binding, such as with asingle recess provided on one side of the interface with a pair on theother, or with a single recess provided on each side of the binding. Inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention, the interface body 3 isformed of molded plastic, such that engagement between the interface andthe binding does not involve metal-to-metal contact, resulting in a moreforgiving engagement between the interface and the binding. However, asis discussed in more detail below, the flexibility of the engagementbetween the interface body 3 and the binding is less significant that ina conventional step-in binding system, because the interface body 3 isnot rigidly attached to the boot 7. Rather, the boot is locked intoengagement with the interface primarily via the ankle strap 5. Theattachment through the ankle strap 5 allows the rider's foot (e.g., thesole of the boot 7) to roll when riding, providing a feel similar toconventional tray bindings that many riders find to be desirable.

[0072] When the rider desires to disengage the back boot from thebinding when advancing along the slope or in the lift line, the ridercan simply pop the interface 1 out of engagement with the binding. Whenused in conjunction with a step-in binding, this disengagement isextremely convenient. When it is desired to re-engage the back boot, therider can simply step into the step-in binding, which thereafter engagesthe interface 1, thereby securing the rider's boot 7 to the snowboard.In this manner, the interface aspect of the present invention providesthe rider with the convenience of a step-in system, while simultaneouslyproviding the riding characteristics of a conventional tray binding. Inaddition, if the rider desires to disengage from the bindings for a moreprolonged period of time, for example to have lunch, the rider cansimply undo the ankle straps 5 to release the boots while leaving theinterfaces 1 engaged with the binding. In this respect, the rider canwalk around unencumbered by the interface. In addition, because the boot7 itself does not include any rigid metal members for direct engagementwith the binding, the sole of the boot 7 can be flexible, providing thecomfort of a conventional soft boot.

[0073] It should be appreciated that it is significantly more convenientfor the rider to pop the back boot out of the binding with the interface1 attached thereto than with some known systems wherein the entirebinding can be popped off of the board. For example, U.S. Pat. No.5,354,088 discloses a rear binding that can be popped of the board toallow the rider to advance the board along the snow to negotiate a liftline. However, using that system, the rider has the entire bindingattached to the back boot which is much less convenient than theinterface 1. For example, the binding in the known system has ahigh-back attached thereto, resulting in the boot having a structureattached thereto that is not nearly as low profile as the interface 1according to one illustrative embodiment of the invention. In addition,in the known system, the structure attached to the rider's boot includescomplete toe and heel attachment mechanisms for binding the rider's footto the board. In contrast, the interface 1 of the present invention doesnot extend forward of the ball area of the foot, again resulting in amore low profile structure attached to the rider's boot.

[0074] The present invention contemplates a number of alternative waysin which the interface can engage with the sole 13 of the boot. In oneembodiment of the invention not shown, the body 3 of the interface has aflat surface adapted to engage with the sole 13 of the boot, so that theinterface 1 can be used with any snowboard boot. This feature of thepresent invention is advantageous in that through the use of such auniversal interface 1, any boot 7 can be made compatible with a step-inbinding, simply by employing an interface 1 that is compatible with thestep-in binding. In this manner, a rider can use a boot alone with atray binding, or the same boot can be used with any of a plurality ofdifferent step-in bindings by simply employing an interface compatiblewith the desired step-in binding.

[0075] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-2, the body 3of the interface includes a toe hook 15 that is adapted to engage with arecess (not shown) in the sole 13 of the boot. The recess can beimplemented in any of a number of ways. For example, one possibleimplementation is shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/887,530,which is incorporated herein by reference, and is directed to an openingin the sole that is defined by a hollowed out cavity including arear-facing mouth that is adapted to receive the toe hook 15. A supportmember or shank can be provided to prevent the sole from sinking in thearea above the cavity, and to reinforce the lower wall of the cavitythat engages with the bottom surface of the toe hook 15. It should beappreciated that the present invention is not limited to any particulartoe hook arrangement, as numerous other implementations are possible toinhibit lifting of the toe portion of the boot 7 from the interface 1,and consequently from the surface of the snowboard.

[0076] As discussed in more detail below, in other embodiments of thepresent invention, a toe hook or other mating feature can be provideddirectly on the base of the binding for engaging with the boot 7, ratherthan being provided on the interface 1. Furthermore, it should beappreciated that the arrangement of the toe hook and a correspondingcavity or engagement member can be reversed, such that the hook can beon the snowboard boot 7, with its mating feature on the interface 1 orthe base of the binding. Finally, it should further be appreciated thatit is not entirely necessary to prevent lifting of the toe of the boot,such that a snowboard boot, binding and interface system can be providedwith no engagement between the boot 7 and the snowboard other than thestrap 5 of the interface.

[0077] As discussed above, the aspect of the present invention directedto the interface 1 is not limited to any particular step-in binding.However, an illustrative example of a binding suitable for use with theparticular implementation of the interface shown in FIG. 1 isillustrated in FIG. 2. The binding includes a baseplate 17 and ahold-down disc 19 that is adapted to mount the baseplate to a snowboard21. The hold-down disc includes holes for receiving a plurality ofscrews 23 to mount the hold-down disc to the snowboard. Mounted to thebaseplate 17 is a pair of moveable engagement members 24, each includinga pair of spaced apart engagement lobes 26 that are adapted to mate withthe recesses 11 in the interface 1. Each moveable engagement memberfurther includes a trigger 28 that is adapted to be stepped upon by theinterface 1 to cause the engagement lobes 26 to move into engagementwith the recesses 11. The interface 1 can optionally include a pair oflower recesses 31 adapted to receive the triggers 28. The moveableengagement members 24 each is further coupled to a handle 33 that can beused to move the engagement member from its closed to an open position.

[0078] The binding shown in FIG. 2 further includes a high-back 35 thatis mounted to a pair of lateral sidewalls 37 of the baseplate 17. In theimplementation shown in the drawings, the attachment of the high-back tothe sidewalls is accomplished via a screw 39 and nut 41, each of whichis received in a slot 43 formed in the corresponding sidewalls 37, toenable rotational adjustment of the high-back about an axissubstantially normal to the baseplate 17.

[0079] The particular binding shown in FIG. 2 is described in greaterdetail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/780,721, which isincorporated herein by reference. An alternate binding that can beemployed with the particular interface 1 shown in FIG. 1 is described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/655,021, which is also incorporatedherein by reference.

[0080] As discussed above, the present invention is not limited to anyparticular binding or mating features on the interface 1 for engagementtherewith. In addition, another aspect of the present invention isdirected to a unique step-in binding. In accordance with one embodimentof the present invention, the unique step-in binding is used inconjunction with a corresponding interface to form a system for mountinga snowboard boot to a snowboard.

[0081] An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 3-6. This embodiment of the present invention includes analternate implementation of an interface 51 for interfacing thesnowboard boot 7 to a binding, as well as a binding 53 compatibletherewith. As with the embodiment of the interface shown in FIG. 1, theinterface 51 includes a body 55 and a single adjustable ankle strap 57.The ankle strap 57 can be implemented in any of a number of ways, andthe present invention is not limited to any particular implementation.

[0082] In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, the embodiment of thepresent invention shown in FIGS. 3-6 does not include any featuremounted on the interface 51 for holding down the toe of the boot 7during riding. Rather, in this embodiment of the invention,corresponding strapless mating features are provided on the boot and thebinding 53 for inhibiting toe lift during riding. In the particularembodiment shown in FIGS. 3-6, the toe-end engagement between the boot 7and the binding is accomplished via a pin 59 that is embedded in thesole of the boot and a forward engagement member 61 mounted on thebinding. As is discussed in more detail below, these engagement andmating features can be reversed between the boot and the binding, andthe toe-end engagement between the boot and the binding can beaccomplished in any number of other ways. The present invention is notlimited to the particular arrangement shown in FIGS. 3-6.

[0083] It should be appreciated that when the interface 51 is engagedwithin the binding 53 during riding, a principle force generated on theinterface 51 will be a lifting force generated by the boot 7 on thestrap 57, which force will be transmitted to the body 55 of theinterface through the components of the strap 57 attached thereto. Toinhibit rotation of the interface 51 relative to the sole of the boot 7,the interface 51 is provided with a heel counter 63. In the particularembodiment shown in the drawings, the interface 51 is formed from asubstantially rigid material (e.g., aluminum, glass-filled nylon,polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane), and the heel counter 63 isformed from a relatively flexible material (e.g., leather, nylon,canvas, surlyn or a flexible plastic). However, it should be appreciatedthat the present invention is not limited in this respect, and that theheel counter 63 and the body 55 of the interface can be formed (e.g., byinjection molding) as a single integral piece from the same material,with either the same or varying degrees of stiffness.

[0084] In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the particulardimensions and configuration of the interface 51 are selected tooptimize performance. As discussed above, one of the advantages of usingthe interface 51 is that the engagement of the boot 7 via the strap 57enables lateral roll of the sole of the boot 7 relative to the interface51. Thus, the upstanding sidewalls 65 of the interface are preferablyprovided to have a height (e.g., not to exceed approximately threeinches) that is sufficiently low to terminate below the ankle bone, sothat the upstanding sidewalls 65 do not inhibit bending of the rider'sankle from side-to-side. It should be appreciated that the sidewalls ofthe interface 1 of FIG. 1, as well as other alternate embodiments of thepresent invention, can be sized to achieve the same result. Second, theheel counter 63 is preferably provided to be relatively thin and to havea low profile so as to fit comfortably between the heel of the boot 7and the high-back 67 on the binding 53. Third, the heel counter 63 isarranged to form an angle A (FIG. 3) relative to the sidewalls 65 of theinterface 51 so that the lifting force on the strap 57 can be resistedby the heel counter 63 without requiring that the heel counter 63 berelatively stiff or strong. In one embodiment of the present invention,the angle A is preferably less than ninety degrees.

[0085] In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 3-6,the interface 51 is arranged to fit on any snowboard boot, and is notintegrated into any particular geometry in the sole of the snowboardboot. As discussed below, in alternate embodiments of the invention, thesnowboard boot and the interface have particular mating geometries sothat the interface is integrated into the sole of the boot.

[0086] A number of soft snowboard boots for use with step-in bindingsinclude a heel strap mounted directly thereto to inhibit lifting of therider's foot inside the boot. However, the holding down of the rider'sfoot with a strap (e.g., 5 in FIG. 1 or 57 in FIG. 3) mounted to theboot via the interface provides a number of advantages over mounting astrap directly to the soft snowboard boot. In this respect, when anankle strap is mounted directly to the boot and is tightened down by therider, the strap provides tension across the entire width of the footbetween the two areas wherein the strap is attached. This is in contrastto the ankle straps used in a conventional tray binding, wherein thestraps are attached to the sidewalls of the binding, and only engage therider's boot from substantially above the ankle area. Thus, as comparedto a strap mounted directly to the boot, an ankle strap in a traybinding applies force substantially only in the downward direction toinhibit heel lift, but yet does not wrap around the foot, and thereforedoes not inhibit foot roll. As discussed above, as tray bindings havebeen the performance standard for years for use with soft snowboardboots, it is desirable to provide a step-in system that maintains thefeel of a tray binding. Thus, in accordance with one illustrativeembodiment of the present invention, the sidewalls 65 of the interface51 (as well as the sidewalls of the interface 1 in FIG. 1) are providedfrom a substantially rigid material so that they do not collapse aroundthe rider's foot when the strap 57 is tightened down. When the sidewallsof the interface are substantially rigid, the ankle strap 57 does notcollapse around the entire width of the boot 7, but rather appliessubstantially only downward pressure to the top of the heel area, whilestill enabling foot roll in much the same manner as the ankle strap in atray binding. Also, by not collapsing around the side of the boot 7, thesidewalls 65 enable some space for the sliding portion 69 of the strapto advance over the top surface of the boot 7 when the strap 57 istightened. As discussed below, in one embodiment of the invention, atruss can be provided between the bottom surface 71 of the interface andeach of the sidewalls 65 to provide the additional rigidity desired toresist collapsing.

[0087] In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 3-6,the interface 51 includes an engagement pin 73 that projects from eachlateral side of the interface for engagement with a locking mechanism onthe binding 53. Although a single engagement pin is shown in thedrawings, it should be appreciated that separate pins can be used forthe medial and lateral sides of the binding. As discussed above, thepresent invention is not limited to any particular mating features forengaging the interface 51 to the binding 53. However, the use of theengagement pin 73 that is circular in cross-section is advantageous inthat it provides a relatively small surface area on the interface 51 forengaging with the binding, which facilitates minimizing the overall sizeof the interface 51. Minimizing the size of the interface 51 isadvantageous because, as discussed above, there are times when the riderwill pop at least the back boot out of the binding 53 with the interfaceattached thereto, so that it is desirable to minimize the structureattached to the sole of the boot 7 in those circumstances. Thus, inaccordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS.3-6, an interface 51 is provided that advantageously has a small overallsize, and that has a forward edge that terminates rearwardly of amidline of the snowboard boot, so that the interface does not underlieany portion of the snowboard boot forward of the boot's midline.

[0088] It should be appreciated that the engagement pin 73 will besubjected to significant lifting forces during riding. Thus, inaccordance with one illustrative embodiment, the engagement pin 73 isformed from a relatively strong material (e.g., stainless steel,hardened steel, hardened aluminum, etc.) to withstand the significantlifting forces.

[0089] The illustrative binding 53 shown in FIGS. 3-14 has a number ofadvantageous features that will become apparent from the descriptionbelow. However, the aspect of the present invention relating to theinterface for interfacing a snowboard boot to a binding is not limitedto use with this or any other particular binding arrangement.Furthermore, the aspect of the present invention relating to the bindingshown in FIGS. 3-14 is not limited to use with an interface 51, as theboot 7 can be provided with an engagement pin 73 mounted directlythereto for mating with the binding 53.

[0090] The illustrative implementation of the binding 53 includes abaseplate 75 and a hold-down disc 77 for mounting the baseplate to thesnowboard 21 in a plurality of rotational positions. The baseplate 75includes a heel hoop 79 to which the high-back 67 is mounted via a pairof screws 81. Although not shown in the drawings, the screws 81 can bepassed through a pair of elongated slots in the heel hoop 79 to enablethe high-back 67 to be rotated about an axis substantially normal to thesnowboard 21 in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No.5,356,170. Although the provision of a rotatable high-back and aseparate hold-down disc for mounting the baseplate 75 to the snowboardare advantageous, it should be appreciated that the present invention isnot limited to a binding that includes these features.

[0091] The illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-14 includes astrapless forward engagement member 61 for engaging a forward section ofthe rider's boot to prevent it from lifting from the baseplate whenriding. As discussed above, the strapless forward engagement member canbe implemented in any of a number of ways and the present invention isnot limited to the particular implementations shown in the drawings,which are provided merely for illustrative purposes.

[0092] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-5, the strapless forwardengagement member 61 includes a hook 83 for engaging a mating feature(e.g., the pin 59) that is disposed in the sole of the boot in any of anumber of ways as described below. The strapless forward engagementmember 61 can be formed from hardened steel, aluminum, or some otherrigid material such as glass filled nylon, or possibly even anon-reinforced plastic such as rubber or polyurethane. When formed frommetal, the engagement member can be formed by casting or bending themetal piece to form the hook 83, leaving sufficient room for the bar orother mating feature in the boot sole to be disposed under the hook 83.When formed from a plastic material, the member 61 can be molded usingany of a variety of suitable techniques such as injection molding. Theforward engagement member 61 can be attached to the base plate 75 via aset of screws 85 and T-nuts 87, or any other technique that wouldprovide a sufficiently strong engagement to resist the lifting forcesapplied to the forward engagement member when riding. Alternatively, theforward engagement member 61 can be molded integrally with the baseplate 75. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, thehook 83 defines an opening that faces toward the front of the binding,such that the rider draws the forward portion of the boot backward whenstepping into the binding to engage with the forward engagement member61. As discussed below, in other embodiments of the invention, the hookcan alternatively be disposed facing rearwardly.

[0093] In one embodiment of the invention, the base plate 75 is providedwith a plurality of holes 89 that are adapted to receive the screws 85for mounting the forward engagement member 61 in a number of differentpositions along the length of the base plate to accommodate differentboot sizes. The mating member on the boot can be fixed thereto so thatit is not adjustable by the rider, thereby reducing the possibility ofmisalignment when the strapless engagement member 61 is set in theappropriate set of holes 89 for the corresponding boot size.Alternatively, in another embodiment of the invention, the mating memberon the boot can be releasably attached thereto to enable the rider toadjust the position of the mating member on the sole.

[0094] The optimal positioning of the strapless forward engagementmember 61 along the length of the base plate 75 is impacted by a numberof factors. First, the engagement member 61 should be positioned on thebase plate so that it will engage and lock down the corresponding matingmember on the boot when the rider's heel is securely inserted in theback of the binding. In general, the further forward the mating member(e.g., bar 59 in FIG. 3) is disposed on the boot, the easier it is forthe rider to engage it with the forward engagement member 61 whenstepping into the binding. In view of the fact that the toe of the bootmay overhang the toe edge of the binding, it is desirable to mount themating member on the boot such that it does not extend beyond the lengthof the boot in the toe area. The mating member can be disposed on theboot as close as one cm from the most forward edge of the rubber outersole of the boot using mounting techniques such as those describedbelow. However, in one embodiment of the invention, the placement of themating member on the boot is measured forward from the heel end of theboot, so that boots of at least two different sizes can have the matingmember disposed in the same location relative to the binding. Thus, inat least one of its adjustment positions provided by the plurality ofholes 89 in the base plate 75, the strapless forward engagement member61 can be used to receive boots of at least two different sizes. Theforward engagement member 61 can be disposed as far rearwardly as thecenter line that marks the midway point between the toe and heel alongthe length of the boot, while effectively holding the toe end of theboot, and in one embodiment of the invention for a size nine boot, isdisposed approximately four cms from the forward toe edge of the boot'souter sole.

[0095] As mentioned above, the position of the forward engagement member61 along the length of the base plate 75 can be adjusted using theplurality of holes 89 to accommodate boots of different sizes. The toeof the boot will typically extend some distance beyond the forward edge91 of the base plate for some boot sizes. Thus, the forward engagementmember 61 can be positioned all the way up to the forward edge 91 of thebase plate, and may even overhang and extend beyond the edge 91, withoutextending beyond the toe edge of the boot. In addition, the holes 89 canextend rearwardly as far as is desired to accommodate positioning of theengagement member 61 so that it will underlie the boot mating member(e.g., 59 in FIG. 3), which may be disposed as far back as the midwaypoint along the length of the boot. In the embodiment shown in thefigures, the plurality of holes 89 extends only as far back as theopening 95 in the base plate that is adapted to accommodate thehold-down disc 77, because as discussed briefly above, the rotationalorientation of the base plate 75 can be adjusted with respect to thehold-down disc 77, which would result in an offsetting of any of theplurality of holes 89 extending across the hold-down disc 77.

[0096] The positioning of the strapless forward engagement member 61across the width of the base plate 75, as well as the positioning of thecorresponding mating member across the width of the boot sole, impactsthe performance of the system. In particular, when these elements arerespectively disposed along the center line midway across the width ofthe binding and boot, foot roll (defined herein as a rolling of the bootsole relative to the base plate 75) will be achieved in both the medialand lateral directions. Offsetting the mating member in the boot and theportion (e.g., hook 83) of the strapless engagement member that isadapted to engage it toward the lateral side of the boot will reducefoot roll toward the medial side of the boot. Conversely, offsettingthese members toward the medial side of the boot will reduce foot rolltoward the lateral side of the boot. Thus, the position of the forwardengagement member 61 and the corresponding mating member on the boot canbe adjusted to control and achieve the desired direction of foot roll.In addition, in one illustrative embodiment of the invention (notshown), two separate strapless engagement members are employed acrossthe width of the base plate 12, to separately control the amount of footroll in the medial and lateral directions.

[0097] In one embodiment of the invention, the opening of the straplessforward engagement member 61 is arranged to be in-line with thedirection of motion of the boot sole mating member as the rider stepsinto the binding, to thereby facilitate engagement between the boot andbinding. In this embodiment of the invention, the forward engagementmember 61 is mounted in an asymmetric fashion, such that the openingdefined by the engagement member is offset slightly from the centralaxis along the length of the boot, with the hook opening facing slightlytoward the medial side of the binding.

[0098] As discussed above, in the embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 3-5, the hook 83 of the strapless forward engagement member 61faces the front of the binding. However, in an alternate embodiment ofthe invention, the open portion of the engagement member faces the rearof the binding. Different advantages can be achieved with each of thesealternate embodiments.

[0099] In the rear-facing embodiment, the rider's boot is securelylocked between the rear portion of the binding, including the high-back67, and the strapless forward engagement member 61. As the rider stepsinto the binding, pressure exerted on the boot by the high-back 67 andthe engagement between the mating feature on the boot sole and theforward engagement member 61 causes the boot to be tightly seatedtherebetween. Thus, when the rider steps into the binding, it is clearwhen the boot engages the forward engagement member and is secured tothe binding thereby. In addition, the heel of the boot is advantageouslyseated firmly against the rear portion of the binding.

[0100] In contrast to the rear-facing embodiment, when the forwardengagement member 61 faces the front of the binding as shown in FIGS.3-5, the binding is relatively easier to step into and out of than inthe above-described rear-facing embodiment, because the boot is notwedged between the high-back 67 and the forward engagement member 61.However, the front-facing embodiment does not provide the same wedgingaction wherein the boot is positively locked between the high-back 67and the forward engagement member 61, and does not provide the sameconfirmation that the boot is engaged by the strapless forwardengagement member 61.

[0101] As should be appreciated from the foregoing, the presentinvention is not limited to either a forward or rear-facing straplessengagement member, and contemplates the use of both embodiments, each ofwhich provides particular advantages.

[0102] As discussed above, the direction of foot roll achieved with thebinding of the present invention can be controlled by varying theplacement of the strapless forward engagement member 61 relative to thecentral axis of the binding. Another characteristic of the system thataffects the amount of foot roll is the width of the hook portion 83(FIG. 4) of the strapless engagement member. In particular, a relativelywide hook portion 83 can be used to control and limit the amount of footroll experienced with the binding, whereas a relatively narrow hookportion 83 will have less impact on restricting the amount of foot roll.A range of acceptable widths for the hook portion 83 of the forwardengagement member in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of theinvention is from five mm to three cm, with one particular embodimentemploying a width of 1.5 cm.

[0103] It should be appreciated that the width of the hook portion 83 ofthe forward engagement member also impacts the ease of insertion of thecorresponding mating member (e.g., bar 59 in FIG. 3) in the boot sole.In particular, the narrower the hook portion 83, the easier it is toinsert the boot sole mating member. Thus, to facilitate insertion of theboot sole mating member in the strapless engagement member, in oneembodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3-5, the hook portion 83narrows as it extends outwardly to a point 93 (FIG. 4). Thus, at thethinnest outward point 93 that defines the mouth of the opening, it isrelatively easy to slip the mating feature on the boot sole under thehook portion 83. As the boot sole member is drawn into furtherengagement with the hook portion 83, the engagement tightens up as moreof the boot sole mating feature is engaged by the widening hook portion83. In one embodiment of the invention, the hook portion 83 has a widthof approximately five mm at the outward portion 93, and widens toapproximately three cm at its widest point.

[0104] Ease of insertion of the boot sole mating member into thestrapless engagement member is also facilitated in one embodiment of theinvention by providing some lift to the entrance portion 93 of the hook,as shown in FIGS. 3-5. Thus, the opening formed by the hook portion 83is largest at the mouth of the opening to facilitate insertion of theboot sole mating member, and then tapers to a smaller opening size.

[0105] The other relevant dimension of the forward engagement member isthe depth D (FIG. 4) of the hook portion 83. The shallower the hookportion 83, the easier it is for the rider to fully engage the boot withthe forward engagement member. However, the hook portion 83 should havesufficient depth to engage the corresponding mating member on the bootsole through a range of positions that accounts for all possiblepositions and forward lean adjustments for the high-back 67. In oneembodiment of the invention, the hook portion 83 has a depth D within arange of 1-5 cm, and in one particular embodiment the depth is equal toapproximately two cm.

[0106] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the binding53 further includes a pair of pads 96 that are mounted to the baseplate75 on both sides of the forward engagement member 61. The pads 96perform several functions. First, the pads distribute any downwardcompression force generated by the toe end of the boot on the binding tominimize the likelihood of a pressure point being created by the forwardengagement member 61. This is advantageous because it is desirable toprevent the rider from feeling the forward engagement member 61underlying the sole of the boot. Second, by varying the stiffness of thepads 96 on one or both sides of the binding, an additional control canbe provided over the amount and direction of foot roll that the boot 7will experience in the binding. It should be appreciated that the pads96 can alternatively be provided on the boot rather than the binding.Furthermore, it should be appreciated that although the pads 96 providethe above-described advantages, they are not necessary and can beeliminated from other embodiments of the present invention.

[0107] One illustrative embodiment of a rear locking mechanism forreleasably engaging the engagement pin 73 will now be described makingreference to FIGS. 3-14. Although the illustrative locking arrangementprovides a number of advantages as discussed below, it should beappreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect,and that numerous other locking arrangements for engaging with theengagement pin 73 are possible.

[0108] The rear locking mechanism includes a pair of biased engagementcams 97, one each disposed on the medial and lateral sides of thebinding 53, rotatably mounted to the sidewalls 101 of the baseplate 75.The cams 97 are biased via springs 99 for rotation toward the forwardedge 91 (FIG. 3) of the baseplate 75. Thus, from the cross-sectionalside view of FIG. 5, the cam 97 is biased for rotation in thecounterclockwise direction. Mounted to the baseplate sidewall 101 oneach side of the binding is also a guide 103 that is adapted to guidethe engagement pin 73 into engagement with the corresponding engagementcam 97. The guide 103 includes a rearward-facing ramp surface 105 (FIGS.9-10) that is inclined rearwardly toward the heel end of the binding,and that facilitates engagement between the pin 73 (FIG. 3) and theengagement cam 97 as the rider steps into the binding 53 as shown inFIGS. 9-13. As the rider steps into the binding, the guide 203 draws thepin 73 back along a rearwardly extending path toward the heel end of thebinding.

[0109] As shown in FIG. 9, the rider can simply step into the binding byaligning the strapless forward engagement member 61 with thecorresponding mating feature (e.g., bar 59) in the boot and steppingdownward so that the engagement pin 73 is guided by the ramp 105 intocontact with the engagement cam 97. To receive the engagement pin 73,the rear engagement mechanism can simply be in its closed or at restposition, and need not be cocked into an open position, because when inthe closed position, the cam 97 intersects the rearwardly extending pathalong which the pin 73 travels. As the rider steps into the binding,engagement between the pin 73 and a trigger surface 98 of the cam 97causes the cam to rotate in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 10,thereby enabling the engagement pin 73 to continue to move down therearward-facing ramp surface 105. As shown in FIGS. 11-12, as theengagement pin 73 reaches the bottom 107 of the rearward-facing rampsurface 105, the engagement pin 73 clears the forward edge 118 of thecam 97, enabling the biased cam to rotate in the counterclockwisedirection in FIG. 13 to capture the engagement pin 73 under theengagement cam 97.

[0110] It should be appreciated that the rearwardly-extending rampsurface 105 is advantageous because movement of the engagement pin 73along the ramp causes the rider's boot to be drawn rearwardly into thebinding as the rider steps in, thereby causing the rear portion of theboot to advantageously be seated firmly against the heel hoop 79 andhigh-back 67, thereby increasing the force transmission between thehighback and the boot. Although the feature of the illustrativeembodiment relating to the drawing backward of the boot is advantageous,it should be understood that the present invention is not limited inthis respect, and that other geometries for the rear surface of theguide 103 are possible for guiding the engagement pin 73 into the lockedposition shown in FIG. 13.

[0111] In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, theengagement cam 97 includes a scalloped surface 109 that engages with theengagement pin 73 when the binding is in the locked position shown inFIG. 13. The purpose of the scalloped surface 109 is to providefrictional engagement between the engagement cam 97 and the engagementpin 73 when the binding is locked. However, it should be appreciatedthat the present invention is not limited to this particular surfacegeometry, as the cam can be provided with a smooth engaging surface thatdoes not include any feature to increase the frictional engagement withthe locking pin, or alternatively, can employ a different surfaceconfiguration to achieve the same purpose as the scalloped surface 109.

[0112] As shown in the drawings, the baseplate 75 includes a raised lip111 that, together with the rear facing surface of the guide 103, formsa recess 113 for receiving the engagement pin 73 when the binding is inthe locked position. In the embodiment of the invention shown in thedrawings, the engagement cam 97 is configured so that the recess 113gets progressively smaller as the cam rotates in the clockwise directionof FIGS. 9-13, i.e., the radius of the engagement cam 97 increases whenmoving along the scalloped surface 109 in the clockwise direction inFIGS. 10-13. Thus, the binding can accommodate an accumulation of snowon the surface of the baseplate 75 or within the recess 113 by providingvarious locking positions that provide differing amounts of clearancebetween the cam 97 and the bottom 115 of the recess 113.

[0113] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, each of the engagementcams 97 has an associated lever 117 that can be manipulated to place therear locking mechanism into a release position as shown in FIG. 14 torelease the engagement pin 73. In the embodiment of the invention shownin FIGS. 3-14, the lever 117 is mounted to the cam 97 in a direct drivefashion, so that rotation of the lever 117 causes a corresponding andidentical amount of rotation of the cam 97. The rider can release theengagement pin 73 from the rear locking mechanism by rotating the levers117 (and consequently the cam 97) clockwise to the open position shownin FIG. 14, lifting the heel of the boot upwardly so that the engagementpin 73 clears the forward edge 118 of the cam 97, and then releasing thelevers 117. Although the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3-14 includes twoseparate levers, it should be appreciated that the present invention isnot limited in this respect, and that a linkage mechanism can beprovided so that the two cams 97 can be manipulated via a single lever.Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the cam includes alip 119 that blocks the exit passage of the engagement pin 73 when thelever 117 is rotated to the release position shown in FIG. 14. In analternate embodiment of the present invention, a mechanism can beprovided to retain the lever 117 and cam 97 in the open position of FIG.14. When such a mechanism is employed, the levers can initially becocked to the open position, and then can be released prior to the riderstepping out of the binding. As the rider steps out of the binding,engagement between the engagement pin 73 and the lip 119 causes adisengagement with the cocking mechanism, thereby enabling the cam 97and lever 117 to rotate to the closed position of FIG. 9. This isadvantageous because the locking mechanism automatically returns to astate wherein the rider can simply step into the binding to cause theengagement pin 73 to be engaged by the engagement cam 97, withoutrequiring any further manipulation of the lever 117. The cockingmechanism can implemented in any of a number of ways, one illustrativeexample of which is described below in connection with an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

[0114] It should be appreciated that the nature of the locking mechanismof FIGS. 3-14, particularly when provided with a cocking mechanism,provides a number of advantages. First, the rider need not hold thelever 117 in the release position (FIG. 14) while stepping out of thebinding. Thus, the rider can first manipulate the lever to the releaseposition, and can thereafter stand up to a more comfortable positionprior to stepping the engagement pin 73 out of engagement with the rearlocking mechanism. This feature enables the locking mechanism to bemoved from a closed or armed position to an open or disarmed positionwithout requiring any movement from the engagement pin 73 or the rider'sboot. Thus, the rider can simply maintain the engagement pin 73 withinthe rear locking mechanism in the position shown in FIG. 14. Thereafter,the rider can choose to step out of the binding at his or herconvenience, or can choose to re-arm the locking mechanism by rotatingthe lever 117 (counterclockwise in FIG. 14) and consequently theengagement cam 97 back into the locked position.

[0115] As discussed above, in one illustrative embodiment of theinvention, each engagement cam 97 is directly driven by a lever 117, andis biased into the closed position of FIG. 9. The manner in which theengagement cam 97 is mounted to the lever 117 and is biased to theclosed position can be implemented in any of a number of ways, with thepresent invention not being limited to any particular implementation.One illustrative arrangement is shown in FIGS. 6-8. The lever 117 andcam 97 each is mounted to a shaft 121 (FIG. 8) that passes through abushing 122 fixed in the sidewall 101 of the baseplate. The lever 117 ismounted to the shaft 121 via set screw 123, and the engagement cam 97 ismounted via a screw 124. A biasing spring 99 is wrapped around the shaft121 at 125, is fixed at one end 127 within the lever 117 and is fixed atthe other end to the wall 101 of the baseplate via an anchor 129.

[0116] It should be appreciated that some mechanism should be providedfor limiting the rotation of the engagement cam 97 and lever 117 once inthe fully closed position. This can be accomplished in any number ofways, and the present invention is not limited to any particularimplementation. For example, a stop can be provided on the outside ofthe binding sidewall 101 to limit the rotation of the lever 117, on theinside of the sidewall 101 to limit the rotation of the engagement cam97, or a stop can be provided to directly limit the rotation of theshaft 121.

[0117] An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown inconnection with FIGS. 15-31. This embodiment of the present invention issimilar in many respects to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-14. However,a number of modifications are made including modifications to all threesystem components, i.e., the boot 217, the interface 201 and the binding301.

[0118] As shown in FIGS. 15-19, in this embodiment, an interface 201 isprovided that is similar in many respects to the interface 51 describedin connection with FIGS. 3-5. As with that embodiment described above,the interface 201 includes an engagement rod 203 for engaging with thebinding, and an adjustable strap 57 for attaching the interface to asnowboard boot 217. Unlike the embodiment described above in connectionwith FIGS. 3-5, the heel counter 205 and the body 207 of the interfaceare formed (e.g., by injection molding) as a single integral piece ofrigid material, such as glass-filled nylon, polycarbonate, aluminum, TPUor some other appropriate material. Each side of the interface isprovided with a slot 209 for receiving the end of the strap 57 attachedthereto, and includes a plurality of holes 211 adapted to receive afastener 212 to mount the strap thereto.

[0119] As discussed above, it is desirable to provide the interface 201to be sufficiently rigid such that the sidewalls of the interface do notcollapse about the boot when the strap 57 is tightened down over the topof the boot, and when the interface is subjected to forces exertedthereon by the boot during riding. To provide additional rigidity, theembodiment of the interface 201 shown in FIGS. 15-17 includes a pair oftrusses 213 provided at the intersections between the sidewalls 214 andthe base 215 of the interface. Although the trusses 213 are advantageousin that they increase the rigidity of the interface, it should beappreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect,and that the trusses need not be provided in other embodiments of thepresent invention.

[0120] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 15-19, the boot217 is provided with a number of features to enable the interface 201 tobe integrated into the boot in a manner that minimizes the profile ofthe boot and interface combination. First, the rear heel section of theboot 217 includes a recess or ledge 219 that is adapted to accommodatethe heel counter 205. As discussed above, this is advantageous tominimize the profile of the heel counter when the boot and interfacecombination steps into a binding having a heel hoop (e.g., 303 in FIG.15) and/or a high-back. Second, the boot 217 also includes a sole recess221 that is adapted to receive the base portion 215 of the interface. Inaccordance with one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the recess221 is constructed and arranged so that when the interface 201 isengaged with the boot and the strap 57 is tightened, the interface 201is pulled upward into the recess 221 so that it is not disposed belowthe bottom surface 223 of the boot outer sole 225, such that theengagement with the interface 201 does not alter the feel of the bootsole when walking.

[0121] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15-19, the sole recess 221 isdisposed under the heel area of the boot 217 and extends fully acrossthe sole of the boot 217 from the medial to the lateral side. The recess221 has a substantially half-cylindrical shape to receive the base 215of the interface 201, and is free of any engagement member that isadapted to be directly engaged by the binding 301. Rather, the recess221 is adapted to receive the interface 201, and the interface 201 is inturn adapted to be directly engaged by the binding 301. It should beappreciated that the aspect of the present invention directed to the useof a sole recess to receive the interface is not limited to anyparticular configuration or location for the sole recess. However, inone embodiment of the present invention, the sole recess 221 is disposedrearwardly of the arch area of the boot. This is advantageous in thatplacement of the interface 201 near the heel of the boot 217 facilitatesminimizing the size of the interface 201, because the interface canresist the lifting force on the strap 57 with a heel counter 205 that isless stiff and strong than would be required if the interface wereattached to a more forward location along the sole of the boot 217.

[0122] As discussed above, the sole of the snowboard boot 217 may rolllaterally relative to the interface 201 during riding. In addition,forces generated on the boot during riding may tend to shift the boot217 both laterally and in the heel-to-toe direction relative to theinterface 201. In accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention, the base 215 of the interface 201 and the recess 221 areprovided with a pair of complimentary mating features that are adaptedto automatically maintain a desired alignment between the interface 201and the recess 221 during riding. This alignment can be accomplished inany of a number of ways, and the present invention is not limited to anyparticular implementation.

[0123] In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 15-19,automatic alignment between the interface 201 and the sole recess 221 isachieved by providing the upper surface of the base 215 of the interfacewith a non-planar contoured surface, and the recess 221 with acorresponding bottom-facing non-planar contoured surface adapted to matetherewith. The contoured surfaces enable the sole of the boot 217 toroll laterally relative to the interface 201, but automatically maintainalignment in the heel-to-toe direction between the interface 201 and therecess 221 during riding. In addition, the medial and lateral sides ofthe recess 211 are flared upwardly at 239 to accommodate the trusses 213in the interface. Engagement between the trusses 213 and the flaredsidewalls 239 helps to automatically register alignment between theinterface and the boot, preventing shifting of the interface from sideto side, as well as rotation of the interface within the recess 221.

[0124] The recess 221 can be provided in the boot 217 in any of a numberof ways and the present invention is not limited to any particularimplementation, including the illustrative implementation shown in thedrawings. In the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings, the bootis provided with a shank 227 that is embedded in the sole 220 of theboot 217. The shank can be formed from a number of materials (e.g.,nylon, surlyn, TPU) and should be sufficiently flexible so as to notnoticeably stiffen the sole of the boot 217. In this respect,traditional soft snowboard boots have a flexible sole that riders havebecome accustomed to and that provide significantly greater comfort whenwalking than a stiff-soled boot.

[0125] The shank 227 shown in the illustrative embodiment represented inthe drawings performs two functions. First, it assists in the formationof the recess 221. Second, the shank 227 also forms a platform formounting a strapless engagement member under the toe area of the bootfor engagement with the binding in a manner discussed in greater detailbelow. The shank 227 can be incorporated into the boot 217 in any of anumber of ways. For example, many soft snowboard boots include atwo-layered sole 220, with an inner or mid sole 229 (FIG. 17) formedfrom a cushioning material (e.g., EVA) and an outer sole 235 formed fromrubber. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, theshank 227 is disposed between these two sole layers. The EVA layer 229can be provided with a recess that is adapted to conform to the uppershank portion 233 (FIG. 15) that defines the recess 221. The shank canbe glued to both the EVA layer 229 and the rubber outer sole 225 andthis sole assembly 220 can be attached to a leather boot upper 234. Asshown in FIG. 16, the rubber outer sole 225 includes a forward solesection 235 and a heel sole section 237 that are separated via theportion 233 of the shank that defines the recess 221. In accordance withone embodiment of the present invention, the outer sole includes a webpiece 231 (FIG. 17) that extends between the front and heel solesections 235 and 237, and extends through the recess 221 defined by theshank 227. The web piece 231 provides a number of advantages. First, itenables the outer sole 225 to be formed from a single piece, rather thanseparate front and heel sections 235 and 237. Second, by controlling thethickness and stiffness of the web 231, the friction and stiffnessbetween the interface 201 and the boot 217 can be controlled. Finally,the web 231 also covers the surface of the shank 227 that defines therecess 221 to increase the durability of the shank.

[0126] As discussed below, it is desirable to integrate the interface201 into the sole 220 of the boot 217 to minimize the profile of theboot and interface combination, and to minimize the impact on the riderwhen walking. In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, therecess 221 and interface are arranged so that the bottom surface 238(FIG. 17) of the interface does not extend below the bottom surface ofeither the front or heel sections 235, 237 of the outer sole 225. In analternate embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface 238 isprovided with a tread or rubber sole that sits flush with the lowerportion of the boot outer sole 225 so that the interface 201 cannot befelt by the rider when walking.

[0127] As discussed above, in the embodiment of the invention shown inthe drawings, the shank 227 is provided with a pair of upwardlyextending flared sidewalls 239 in the area that defines the sidewalls ofthe recess 221. As mentioned previously, the purpose of the upwardlyflared sidewalls 239 is to accommodate the trusses 213 in the interface,and to help register alignment between the interface and the boot.

[0128] As discussed above, the present invention is not limited toproviding a customized geometry for engaging the interface with theboot, as other embodiments are directed to the use of an interface withany boot, requiring no customized geometry on the boot for receiving theinterface.

[0129] Although not shown in the figures, the binding 301 can include ahigh-back mounted to the heel hoop 303. The heel hoop 303 can include apair of slots or spaced holes to enable rotation of the high-back in thesame manner as described in connection with the high-back 35 in theembodiment of FIG. 2. The feature of a highback rotatable relative to anaxis substantially normal to the baseplate of the binding is disclosedin commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,170. The high-back disclosed inthat patent includes a pair of arms that extend downwardly from the heelhoop substantially parallel to the sidewalls of the baseplate. Thus, theslots to which the high-back are pivotally mounted extend substantiallyparallel to one another, facilitating the folding down of the high-backtoward the baseplate to minimize the profile of the binding fortransportation or storage. In contrast, the binding 301 disclosed inFIG. 15, like the binding 53 in FIG. 3, includes an engagement mechanismthat extends along the lateral sides of the binding, making it moredifficult to mount a high-back to the baseplate with arms extendingalong the lateral sides of the binding. Thus, the high-back 67 (FIG. 3)and a high-back (not shown) for the binding of FIG. 15 are mountedhigher on the heel hoop (e.g., heel hoop 303 in FIG. 15) than thehighback in the '170 patent, and are mounted for rotation about slotsthat may not extend parallel to one another along the sides of thebaseplate.

[0130] It should be appreciated that when the slots to which thehigh-back is mounted do not extend parallel to one another along thelateral sides of the binding, difficulty is encountered in folding thehigh-back down to reduce the profile of the binding for storage ortransportation. Thus, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIG. 15, the binding 301 is provided with a hinged heel hoop 303 that ismounted to the sidewalls 307 of the baseplate for rotation about pivotpoints 309. In this manner, rotation of the high-back about an axissubstantially normal to the baseplate 309 can be accomplished viamovement of the high-back within slots or spaced holes in the heel hoop303, while rotation of the high-back forwardly into a non-use positioncan be accomplished by rotating the entire heel hoop 303 forwardly aboutthe pivot points 309 (which define an axis of rotation that is differentthan the axis about which the high-back rotates relative to the heelhoop). It should be appreciated that although rotating the high-backdown into a non-use position relative to the heel hoop 303 is difficultwhen using non-parallel slots in the heel hoop, a smaller range ofrotation of the high-back forward can be achieved with littledifficulty, thereby enabling the forward lean of the high-back to beadjusted relative to the heel hoop 303. It should also be appreciatedthat the high-back and the heel hoop 303 can be provided withsubstantially the same radius of curvature to facilitate rotation of thehigh-back within the heel hoop 303 about an axis substantially normal tothe baseplate 305.

[0131] It should be appreciated that in contrast to the bindingdisclosed in the '170 patent, the mounting of the high-back in thebinding of FIG. 15 without the use of the relatively long arms employedin the '170 patent results in a greater moment being generated on theportion on the binding (i.e., the heel hoop 303) to which the highbackis attached. Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, thebinding 301 is formed of relatively strong material (e.g., aluminum) toresist this greater moment.

[0132] Although described in connection with the particular bindings ofFIGS. 3 and 15, it should be appreciated that the hinged heel hoopaspect of the present invention can also be employed in connection withother binding designs. Furthermore, although this feature provides theadvantages described above, it should be appreciated that the presentinvention is not limited in this respect, and that alternate bindingdesigns are contemplated that do not employ a hinged heel hoop.

[0133] The rear locking mechanism in the binding of FIG. 15 is similarin many respects to that disclosed in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-14, butwith additional features, e.g., a single lever 311 and a mechanism formaintaining the rear locking mechanism in a cocked open position. Thebinding 301 includes a guide 313 that includes a rearwardly extendingramp surface 315 that is similar to the ramped surface 105 (FIG. 9) inthe embodiment of the invention described above in connection with FIGS.3-14. As with the ramped surface 105, the ramped surface 315 providesthe advantageous feature of drawing the rider's heel into engagementwith the heel hoop 303 of the binding when the rider steps into thebinding 301. Furthermore, the binding 301 also includes a pair ofengagement cams 317 that are adapted to releasably engage the engagementpin 203 on the interface 201 to lock the heel of the rider's boot 217into the binding. As with the cam 97 in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-14,the cam 317 can include a scalloped surface 319 to facilitate engagementwith the engagement pin 203, although the scalloped surface is notnecessary to practice the present invention.

[0134] Like the embodiment of FIGS. 3-14, the engagement cam 317 isbiased via a spring 321 (FIG. 20) for rotation (counterclockwise in FIG.20) into the locked position for engaging with the engagement pin 203.However, unlike the spring 99 (FIG. 7) in the embodiment describedabove, the spring 321 is arranged to minimize the width of the binding.In this respect, as shown in FIG. 21, the spring 321 is disposed betweenthe inner and outer walls 307 a and 307 b of the baseplate sidewalls307. It should be appreciated that it is desirable to minimize the widthof the binding 301. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20, the spring 321 iswound in a manner that increases the vertical distance over which thespring extends, but not the width across the binding. The spring canobviously be fixed at its ends in any of a number of ways. In theembodiment shown in the drawings, a first end 323 of the spring isattached about a D-shaped shaft 325 to which the engagement cam 317 ismounted in a manner described below. A second end 327 of the spring iswrapped about a ball plunger 329 that is also further described below.

[0135] As discussed above, in one embodiment of the present invention, amechanism is provided to maintain the cam 317 in the cocked or releaseposition shown in FIG. 23, so that the rider can initially manipulatethe lever in the direction shown by the arrow R in FIG. 23 to place theheel locking mechanism in the open position, can release the lever 311,and can thereafter step out of the heel engaging mechanism wheneverconvenient. This type of cocking mechanism can obviously be implementedin a number of different ways, and the present invention is not limitedto any particular implementation. However, one illustrativeimplementation is shown in FIGS. 20-23, and includes a ball plunger 329mounted in the baseplate housing 307. A corresponding detent 331 (FIGS.20 and 22) is provided on the engagement cam 317 and is adapted to matewith the ball plunger 329 when the cam is moved, via lever 311 and alinking mechanism described below, into the cocked release positionshown in FIG. 23. When the lever 311 is moved into this releaseposition, the corresponding rotation of the engagement cam 317 bringsthe detent 331 into alignment with the ball plunger 329, therebyautomatically engaging the cam 317 with the plunger 329. Thus, when thelever 311 is released, the engagement cam 317 stays in the cockedposition shown in FIG. 23. The engagement cam 317 further includes a lip333 (FIG. 23) that is adapted to cover an opening 335 between the camand the rearward-facing ramp surface 315 when the cam 317 is in thecocked release position, so that the lip 333 intersects the path longwhich the engagement pin 203 will pass when stepping out of the binding.Thus, when the rider lifts the heel of the boot out of engagement withthe rear latching mechanism, the engagement pin 203 will contact the lip333, causing the cam to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.23, and thereby disengaging the detent 331 from the ball plunger 329.This feature of the illustrative embodiment is advantageous in that whenthe rider exits from the binding, the rear locking mechanism isautomatically returned to the position shown in FIG. 22 and is ready tobe stepped into again. If no mechanism was provided for automaticallydisengaging the detent 331 and the ball plunger 329 upon exit of theengagement pin 203 from the rear locking mechanism, the rider would needto manually manipulate the lever 311 to reset the binding into thelocked position.

[0136] Although the cocking and release mechanism described above isadvantageous, it should be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the particular illustrative implementation shown in thedrawings, or even to the use of a cocking and release mechanism.

[0137] As mentioned above, in one illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention, a linkage assembly is provided that links together theengagement cams 317 on both the medial and lateral sides of the binding,so that a single lever 311 can be employed to manipulate both cams. Thiscan be accomplished in any of a number of ways, and the presentinvention is not limited to any particular implementation. However, theillustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 20-23 takes into account a numberof design considerations, and provides a particularly advantageousimplementation. A first design consideration is to develop a low profilelinkage assembly that does not cause a substantial increase in thethickness of the baseplate 305. In this regard, it should be appreciatedthat in view of the fact that each of the engagement cams 317 ispivotally mounted to the baseplate about a shaft 325 that is mounted ata height above the top surface 337 of the baseplate, a direct drivelinkage assembly cannot be employed because the rider's boot will bedisposed in the area about which a direct shaft would extend between thetwo cams 317. Thus, it is desirable to provide a linkage assembly thatbridges the gap between the two engagement cams 317 in a manner thatdoes not substantially increase the profile of the binding 301.

[0138] A second design consideration for the linkage assembly relates tothe degree of rotation that each of the engagement cams 317 undergoeswhen moving from the locked position of FIG. 20 to the open or releaseposition of FIG. 23. In this respect, each cam undergoes a range ofrotation through approximately 115°. It is desirable to provide alinkage mechanism that does not require that the rider rotate the lever311 through as great a degree range to move the heel locking mechanisminto the released position. A related consideration is that there aresome segments of the range of movement for the engagement cam 317wherein greater torque is desired to be imparted to the cam 317, e.g.,when initially moving the cam from the locked position of FIG. 20wherein it engages the pin 203 and when seating the ball plunger 329into the detent 331.

[0139] One illustrative implementation of a linkage assembly thatbalances these design considerations in an advantageous manner is shownin FIGS. 20-23. The linkage assembly includes a substantially U-shapedconnecting rod 341 having an elongated section 341 a that passesunderneath the upper surface 337 of the baseplate 305 and upstandingsections 341 b disposed on both the medial and lateral sides of thebinding. At least one of the upstanding sections 341 b is attached onone side of the binding to the lever 311, for example via a set screw343. It should be appreciated that the binding 301 can be provided witha pair of levers 311, one on each side of the binding, althoughmanipulation of only one of the two levers is necessary in view of thelinkage assembly. Alternatively, the handle 311 can be replaced on oneside of the binding via a link that couples the connecting rod 341 withthe remainder of the linkage assembly discussed below.

[0140] The remainder of the linkage assembly on each side of the bindingincludes two additional components, i.e., an L-shaped link 345 and anapostrophe-shaped cam 347. The apostrophe-shaped cam 347 is directlymounted to the same shaft 325 as the engagement cam 317 that is adaptedto engage the engagement pin 203 on the interface. Thus, rotation of theapostrophe-shaped cam 347 causes direct corresponding rotation of theengagement cam 317. The shaft 325 is received through a bushing 326mounted in the outer housing wall 307 a.

[0141] The lever 311, or a corresponding link that replaces it on oneside of the binding, pivots about a pivot axis defined by the elongatedsection 341 a of the connection rod. The L-shaped link is attached tothe lever 311 via a pin 351, which can be attached to the lever in anynumber of ways, for example via the use of a socket 353 (FIG. 21). Theremainder of the L-shaped link 345 is free floating, and is not rigidlyfixed to any other component of the linkage assembly. However, theL-shaped cam does include a nub 355 that is adapted to be received in atrack 357 within the outer housing wall 307 b, or a cover plate 367described below. Engagement between the track 357 and the nub 355 merelymaintains the L-shaped cam in the proper orientation for bearing on theapostrophe-shaped cam 347 through the entire pivoting range for thelever 311. It should be appreciated that the orientation of the L-shapedcam 345 can be maintained in numerous other ways, and that the presentinvention is not limited to the particular implementation shown in thedrawings.

[0142] The manner in which the engagement between the L-shaped link 345and the apostrophe-shaped cam 347 achieves the above-described goals ofvarying the amount of torque and rotation imparted to the engagement cam317 will now be described. When the heel locking mechanism is in thelocked position shown in FIGS. 20 and 22, the cam 317 is in engagementwith the engagement pin 203 of the interface. Thus, to open the latchingmechanism, a relatively high moment arm is initially desired to overcomethe frictional engagement between the cam 317 and the engagement pin203. The illustrative embodiment of the linkage assembly accomplishesthis result because when the latching mechanism is in this closedposition, rotation of the lever 311 in the counterclockwise direction ofFIG. 22 is translated to a pushing force F (FIG. 22) generated by theheel end 361 of the L-shaped link 345 on the tip 363 of theapostrophe-shaped cam 347. Since the tip 363 of the apostrophe-shapedcam 347 is disposed a relatively large distance from the shaft 325 aboutwhich the cams 347 and 317 rotate, a relatively high moment arm isgenerated through actuation of the lever 311, thereby assisting ininitially disengaging the cam 317 from the engagement pin 203.

[0143] As discussed above, after the engagement between the cam 317 andthe engagement pin 203 is initially broken, it is desirable to reducethe moment arm generated on the shaft 325 to achieve a higher rate ofrotation for each increment of rotation of the lever 311. The manner inwhich this is achieved in the illustrative implementation of the linkagemechanism is shown in FIG. 23. In FIG. 23, the lever 311 and L-shapedlink 345 are shown in phantom at a transition point, wherein engagementbetween the L-shaped link and the apostrophe-shaped cam is switchingfrom the heel end 361 of the L-shaped link to the toe end adjacent thenub 355. As shown in FIG. 23, this switching of the engagementcorresponds to a significantly smaller moment arm about the shaft 325 asthe toe end of the L-shaped link that takes over the action of pushingthe apostrophe-shaped cam acts on a portion of the apostrophe-shaped cam347 that is closer to its pivot axis 325. Thus, less rotation of thelever 311 is required to achieve the desired greater rotation of theapostrophe-shaped cam 347 and the engagement cam 317 directly driventhereby.

[0144] As discussed above, it is desirable to increase the momentgenerated on the apostrophe-shaped cam 347 as it nears its fully openposition of FIG. 23 to assist in setting the spring ball 329 in thedetent 331. This is achieved in the illustrative embodiment of thelinkage assembly via the arrangement of the lever 311 and the L-shapedlink 345, and through the use of toggle joint principles. It should beappreciated that two line segments can be drawn from the point whereinthe pin 351 attaches the L-shaped link 345 to the lever 311. A firstsegment passes through the pivot point of the lever defined by theelongated section 341 a of the connection rod, and a second passesthrough the nub 355 at the toe end of the L-shaped link. It should beappreciated that according to toggle joint principles, as these two linesegments begin to straighten out such that the angle between themapproaches zero, the amount of torque generated on the apostrophe-shapedcam 347 through its engagement at the toe edge of the L-shaped link 345greatly increases, becoming a multiple of the torque exerted by thelever 311. Thus, although the distance from the rotation axis 325 doesnot increase for the point at which the torque is applied to theapostrophe-shaped cam 347, the moment generated on the apostrophe-shapedcam 347 greatly increases with the applied torque. This increase intorque begins when the angle between the two line segments approachesapproximately 7°, achieves a significant multiple when the angleapproaches 3°.

[0145] In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention describedin connection with FIGS. 20-23, both sides of the heel locking mechanismare substantially identical, such that each side is provided with aspring 321 that biases its corresponding engagement cam 317 into theclosed position, and each side includes the spring ball 329 and detent331 arrangement for maintaining the locking mechanism in the openposition. It should be appreciated that the present invention is notlimited in this respect, and that these components of the lockingmechanism can be provided on only one side of the binding, along with alinkage assembly that constrains both cams to have the same rotationalorientation, such that rotation of one of the engagement cams 317necessarily causes an identical amount of rotation for the other cam317. However, the aspect of the present invention wherein the engagementcams 317 are independently biased is advantageous. In particular, theengagement cams 317, like the cams 97 discussed above in connection withthe embodiment of FIGS. 3-14, have a geometry that provides the lockingmechanism with a self-tightening feature in the event that anaccumulation of snow develops under the sole of the boot or theengagement pin 203. By employing independently active engagement cams317, the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 15-21enables both sides of the binding to be locked independently, even if anaccumulation of snow is present on one side of the binding and not theother. If the engagement cams 317 were directly mounted to one anotherand constrained to have the same rate of rotation, if an accumulation ofsnow developed under the engagement pin 203 on only one side of thebinding, both engagement cams 317 would not rotate to their fully closedposition, resulting in an undesirable loose connection on the side ofthe binding without the accumulation of snow. In contrast, theillustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawingsadvantageously securely engages the engagement pin 203 on both sides ofthe binding, even if doing so requires independent positioning of theengagement cams 317.

[0146] In the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings, thebaseplate sidewalls 307 include a slot 366 (FIG. 15) that enables thepin 351 (FIG. 21) that interconnects the lever 311 and the L-shaped link345 to move through the required range of motion as the lever 311 ismoved between the closed and open positions. As discussed above, asimilar slot or opening 357 (FIG. 21) can also be provided in thesidewall 307 to accommodate the nub 355 at the toe end of the L-shapedlink 345. In the illustrative embodiment shown, a cover plate 367 isprovided and includes the slot 357 on its interior surface. The sidewall307 of the baseplate can simply be cut away in this area to enableaccess between the nub 355 and the slot 357. However, it should beappreciated that this aspect of the locking mechanism can be implementedin numerous other ways. For example, the lever 311 can simply beprovided in an opening between the inner and outer sidewalls 307 a and307 b of the baseplate, such that the slot 366 in the outer sidewall 307b would not be necessary. In addition, the slot 357 for receiving thenub 355 can be provided directly in the sidewall 307 of the baseplate. Acover can optionally be provided to overlie the slot, or the slot can beleft exposed to the side of the binding. The present invention is notlimited to any particular implementation in this regard.

[0147] As shown in FIGS. 20 and 22, the engagement pin 203 isconstrained in the locked position not only by the engagement cam 317,but also by the rear surface 371 of the guide 313, and a rear retainingtab 373 extending upwardly from the bottom surface 337 of the baseplate.As shown in FIGS. 20 and 22, when in the fully locked position, a space375 is provided between the bottom of the engagement pin 203 and thebottom of the channel that receives it. This space is advantageous inthat if the rider lands a jump or a compression force is otherwiseapplied in the heel area of the boot, the engagement pin 203 can beforced deeper into the channel 375 as the sole of the boot compresses.Therefore, the engagement pin 203 will not dig into the heel of therider and create an uncomfortable pressure point. The scalloped surface319 of the cam 317 is arranged to rotate further in the clockwisedirection of FIG. 20 if the engagement pin 203 drops into the channel375, but will not further tighten down the engagement of the engagementpin 203.

[0148] As with the embodiment of FIGS. 3-14 described above, it shouldbe appreciated that some mechanism should be provided for limiting therotation of the engagement cams 317 and the lever 311 once the bindingis in fully closed position. This can be accomplished in any number ofways, and the present invention is not limited to any particularimplementation. For example, a stop can be provided on the outside ofthe binding housing 307 a to limit the rotation of the lever 311, on theinside of the housing 307 b to limit the rotation of the engagement cams317 or the apostrophe-shaped cams 347, or a stop can be provided todirectly limit the rotation of the shaft 325. In one embodiment of theinvention, the rotation stop is provided by engagement between the shaftof the spring ball plunger 329 and the slot 348 in the apostrophe shapedcam 347 that receives the plunger 329.

[0149] The illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 15 also includes an alternate strapless forward engagement systemfor holding down the toe-end of the boot. In the embodiment of theinvention shown in the figures, the strapless forward engagement systemis disposed forward of the arch area of the boot 217, and underlies atoe area of the boot 217. As shown in FIG. 15, the shank 227 includes aforward section 401 that is reinforced by a plurality of ribs 403 toreceive a hook 405 for engagement with a corresponding engagementmechanism 407 mounted on the baseplate 305. The hook 405 can be mountedto the shank 227 in any of a number of ways, including through the useof a pair of screws 409 and nuts 410 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 25.

[0150] The illustrative toe hook and active locking mechanism of FIG. 15is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 24-31. This arrangement achieves theprimary design objectives of being easy to step into and out of. As isdescribed in greater detail below, the toe engagement mechanism can bestepped into by simply stepping the toe portion of the boot straightdown into the engagement mechanism on the binding. This stepping inautomatically (i.e., without requiring that the rider manipulate a leveror take any action other than stepping the boot into the binding) causesthe active locking mechanism to move between an open position and aclosed position wherein the active locking mechanism automaticallyengages the toe hook. After the mechanism is engaged, no amount oflifting force generated on the toe end of the boot will result indisengagement. However, when the rider desires to step out of thebinding, all that is required is that the rider first lift the heel ofthe boot out of engagement with the rear engagement mechanism, and thensimply roll the boot forward and lift the toe end out of engagement withthe locking mechanism. This stepping out action automatically (i.e.,without requiring that the rider manipulate a lever or take any actionother than stepping the boot out of the binding) causes the activelocking mechanism to move from the closed position to the open positionwherein the active locking mechanism automatically disengages the toehook. Thus, this toe locking mechanism is advantageous in that it iseasy to get into and out of and does not require that a lever or anyactuation mechanism be manipulated to lock or release the mechanism.

[0151] As shown in FIG. 25, the outer sole 225 of the boot is providedwith a recess 411 to expose the toe hook 405. It should be appreciatedthat the recess can be any shape. The recess 411 can be confined solelyto the area of the boot surrounding the toe hook 405, and need notextend to the outer surface of the outer sole 225 either on the lateralsides of the boot or toward the front of the boot. However, the presentinvention is not limited in this respect, as the recess 411 can have anygeometry that exposes the toe hook 405. The toe hook forms a cleat thatextends downwardly from a base 421 (FIG. 24) mounted to the sole of theboot. As used herein, the reference to a base is intended to merelyindicate a portion of the cleat that is mounted to the sole of the boot(or the binding if the locking mechanism is reversed as discussedbelow), and is not limited to any particular mounting structure. Thecleat portion of the toe hook 405 is wedge-shaped and includes a pair ofcamming sections 413 that taper along the medial and lateral sides ofthe cleat from a wider base-end (i.e., top in FIG. 30) portion 418 to anarrower free-end (i.e., bottom in FIG. 30) portion 415.

[0152] The locking mechanism on the baseplate 305 includes a pair ofspaced apart loops 417, biased for movement toward each other, that arerespectively adapted to engage with the two lateral sides of the toehook 405. As shown in FIG. 25, the toe hook 405 is engaged with thelocking mechanism 407 by the rider simply stepping down into the bindingwith the toe hook 405 aligned with the locking mechanism 407. The widerbase-end portion 418 of the cleat portion of the toe hook 405 is widerthan the spacing between the biased loops 417, while the narrowerfree-end portion 415 is narrower than this spacing. Thus, as the toehook 405 is brought down into engagement with the locking mechanism, thecammed surfaces 413 automatically spread the biased loops 417 apart inthe direction shown by the arrows B in FIG. 25. As shown in FIG. 25, thetoe hook 405 includes a pair of upwardly facing shelves or hook portions419 on each lateral side thereof. Once the toe hook is advancedsufficiently down into engagement with the locking mechanism so thatbiased loops clear the top of the hooks 419, the biased loops moveinwardly to capture the hook portions 419 as shown in FIG. 26, therebylocking the toe portion of the boot to the baseplate 305. In thisrespect, as shown in FIG. 25, hook portions 419 are curved toward thebase 421 (upwardly in FIG. 30) at the outer side edges. Therefore, alifting force generated on the toe hook 405 actually acts to seat thebiased loops 417 deeper into the hook portions 419, rather than actingto cause a release of the locking mechanism.

[0153] The toe hook 405 is provided with a geometry that facilitatesdisengagement with the locking mechanism 407 by the rider simply liftingthe heel of the boot away from the surface of the baseplate 305. Thisgeometry is shown in FIGS. 28-31. The toe hook extends downwardly from abase 421 (FIG. 24) to a lowest tip 415. A cleat portion of the toe hook405 tapers from its toe edge 425 to the bottom tip 415. The cleatfurther tapers from its heel edge 427 to the tip 415, giving the cleat awedge or V-shaped appearance in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG.28. Finally, the cleat also tapers from a greatest width at its toe edge425 to a thinnest width at its heel edge 427 as best shown in FIG. 31.

[0154] As a result of the tapering in the width of the cleat from itsfront 425 to its rear 427, disengagement of the toe hook 405 from thelocking mechanism is easily achieved by the rider simply lifting theheel edge of the boot and rolling the foot forward in the direction ofarrow C as shown in FIG. 29. The rear edge 427 of the cleat has a widththat is less than the spacing between the biased loops 417 when they arein the locked position shown in FIG. 26, whereas the front edge 425 ofthe cleat has a greater width than the biased loops when in this lockedposition. Thus, when the heel of the boot is lifted as shown in FIG. 29,the rearward portion of the tapered side edges 429 of the cleat wedgebetween the biased loops 417. As the heel of the boot is continuallylifted and rolled forward, the tapered sides 429 of the cleat wedge thebiased loops 417 apart, enabling the hook portions 419 (FIG. 26) of thetoe hook to be disengaged from the biased loops as shown in FIG. 30.

[0155] Three characteristics of the toe hook 405 and latching mechanism407 contribute to the mechanism resisting release as a result of liftingforces generated on the toe section of the boot during riding, whilefacilitating easy release by lifting the heel of the boot. First, theabove-described geometry of the hook portions 419 that act to seat thebiased loops 417 deeper in response to a lifting force. Second, as shownin FIG. 31, the cleat portion of the toe hook 405 is wedged facing theback of the boot, but not the front, so that the above-described wedgingaction would not take place in response to a lifting force generated atthe toe end of the boot. Third, the front edge 425 of the cleatterminates at the widest point of the wedging surfaces 429, therebyfacilitating full release of the hook portions 419 from the biased loops417 that have been spread apart by the wedged surfaces 429. Fourth, andperhaps most importantly, since the heel end of the boot will be lockedinto engagement with the rear latching mechanism of the binding whileriding, it will not be possible for the boot sole to achieve anythingapproaching the angle shown in FIG. 29 while pivoting back on the heelend of the boot. Therefore, although not desirable, the cleat couldpotentially be provided with a taper also extending to the forwardsection of the boot and still resist release upon a lifting force at thetoe end. In this respect, although some wedging action might begin inresponse to a lifting force at the toe, the sole of the boot should notbe able to attain the angle necessary to cause separation of the biasedloops 417 and a release of the toe hook mechanism.

[0156] It should be appreciated that the toe hook 405 and the biasedloops 417 will be used to resist lifting forces generated on the toe endof the boot during riding and should be formed from materials that aresufficiently strong to withstand these forces. These components can beformed from any of a number of different materials, such as stainlesssteel or hardened steel. Alternatively, the toe hook 405 could be moldedfrom a suitable material (e.g., glass-filled nylon, polycarbonate, TPU,etc.).

[0157] It should further be appreciated that it is desirable for the toehook 405 to not provide any pressure point or area of discomfort for therider when walking. Thus, in one embodiment of the invention, the toehook 405 is sized so that it does not protrude below the outer bootsole.

[0158] Although the particular geometry of the illustrative embodimentshown in the figures provides the advantages described above, it shouldbe appreciated that the present invention is not limited in thisrespect, and that other implementations are possible.

[0159] The biased loops 417 can be implemented in any of a number ofways, and the present invention is not limited to any particularimplementation, including the one shown in the drawings which isprovided merely for illustrative purposes. Each biased loop 417 in theillustrative embodiment shown in the drawings is implemented via aspring coiled at front 431 and rear 433 sections of the engagementmechanism in 407, and each extends in the heel-to-toe direction alongthe binding 301(FIG. 15). The springs can be provided in a housing 435including top and bottom sections 435 t and 435 b attached by aplurality of screws 437. The entire housing can then be attached to thebaseplate 305 via an additional set of screws 439. To provide increasedresistance to lifting forces, the housing 435 can be formed from astrong material, such as aluminum, stainless steel or hardened steel.Alternatively, the components of the engagement mechanism 407 can beattached directly to the baseplate 305, without the use of the housing435.

[0160] It should be appreciated that during riding, lateral forces maybe exerted on the snowboard boot 217 that may cause the toe end to shiftlaterally from side-to-side. To inhibit such lateral migration fromcausing an inadvertent disengagement of the toe hook 405 from theengagement mechanism 407, in one embodiment of the present invention,the engagement mechanism is provided with a pair of blocks 451, onedisposed outside and adjacent each of the biased loops 417. The blocks451 are formed of substantially rigid material and are sufficientlystrong to resist lateral movement of the toe hook 405 after it isengaged with the biased loops 417. The blocks 451 are spacedsufficiently far apart to enable the widest surface 425 (FIG. 31) of thetoe hook to be disposed therebetween, but are sufficiently close so asto prevent enough lateral migration of the toe hook 405 to cause eitherof the hook portions 419 (FIG. 26) to become disengaged from itscorresponding biased loop 417. In addition, as shown in FIG. 25, theblocks 451 are sized and arranged so that the biased loops 417 can flexover and around them when spread apart by the toe hook cleat entering orexiting the engagement mechanism 407. For example, the blocks 451 have alength in the heel-to-toe direction that is less than a length of thebiased loops 417.

[0161] It should be appreciated that the latching mechanism 407 is notlimited to using the pair of blocks 451, as the same function can beaccomplished in other ways. For example, only one biased loop 417 andaccompanying block 451 could be provided, along with a rigid loop on theopposing side. Furthermore, the arrangements of the toe hook 405 on theboot and the engagement mechanism 407 on the binding can obviously bereversed, such that the baseplate 305 of the binding can be providedwith a toe hook such as 405, and the snowboard boot can be provided anengagement mechanism such as 407.

[0162] As discussed above, the present invention is not limited to anyparticular engagement mechanism for engaging the toe-end of the binding.A number of alternate strapless engagement members will now be discussedbelow.

[0163] An alternate embodiment of the strapless engagement member isdisclosed in FIG. 32. In this embodiment of the invention, the forwardengagement member 501 includes a hook portion 502 that is similar inmany respects to the hook 61 discussed in the embodiment of FIG. 3, butis oriented so that it faces the heel section of the binding. Asdiscussed above, this embodiment provides the advantageous feature thatthe boot is firmly seated between the high-back (e.g., 67 in FIG. 3) andthe engagement member 501. However, it should be understood that in viewof the heel hoop and high-back disposed at the heel of the binding, itmay be difficult for the rider to place the heel of the boot down flushagainst the base plate 17, and then slide the boot forward so that themating feature disposed on the sole can engage with the engagementmember 501. In fact, when the boot is seated back against the high-back67, the mating feature in the boot sole should be fully engaged with thehook 502, without having to be moved forward, as this corresponds to theposition of the boot in the binding when riding. Thus, the embodiment ofthe invention disclosed in FIG. 32 provides a rear-facing engagementmember 501 that is biased to facilitate engagement with the boot.

[0164] As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 32, the biasedengagement member 501 is mounted to the base plate 17 via a hinge pin503 that is embedded in the base plate 17 in any of a number of ways,examples of which are discussed below.

[0165] The binding includes a spring 505 that biases the engagementmember 501 for rotation upwardly about the axis defined by hinge pin503. Thus, when stepping into the binding, the rider angles the boot inthe manner shown in FIG. 33, such that the toe portion is lower than theheel portion. The biasing spring 505 causes the engagement member 501 tobe angled upwardly in a position that facilitates entry of the matingfeature 507 on the boot sole (which can be implemented in any number ofways as discussed below) under the hook 503. The rider can then bringthe boot heel down into engagement with the rear portion of the binding,overcoming the force of the spring 505. As shown in the cross-sectionalview of FIG. 32, the base plate 17 may include a recessed portion 509underlying the bottom portion of the engagement member 501, such thatwhen the rider has stepped into the binding, a top surface 501T of theengagement member disposed below the hook 502 lies flush with a topsurface 17T of the base plate. In addition, the engagement member 501may include a stop 511 that is adapted to engage with base plate 17 tolimit rotation of the engagement member 501.

[0166] As mentioned above, the biased engagement member 501 can bemounted to the base plate for rotation in any of a number of ways. Thepresent invention is not limited to any particular implementation. Forexample, the hinge pin 503 can be implemented with a rivet that isembedded in the base plate. Alternatively, the hinge pin 503 can bemolded into the base plate 17, and the engagement member 501 can beprovided with a slot for allowing it to be snapped onto the hinge pin503.

[0167] Several illustrative implementations of the mating member on theboot for engaging with the strapless forward engagement member on thebinding will now be described. It should be understood that the matingmember can have any of a number of configurations and can be attached tothe boot in numerous ways. The present invention is not limited to theparticular implementations discussed below, which are provided merelyfor illustrative purposes.

[0168] A first illustrative embodiment for the mating feature on theboot is shown in FIGS. 34-35. FIG. 34 is a bottom view of a boot sole513 that includes a mating member 515 that is disposed in an opening orrecess 517 in the sole. In this embodiment of the invention, the matingmember 515 is a steel bar that is circular in cross-section. The bar 515can be embedded in the outer sole 525 of the boot (which may be rubberor any other suitable material) by disposing the bar 515 in a mold andthen injecting the material for the outer sole 525 into the mold aroundthe bar 515. In one embodiment of the invention, the recess 517 is sizedto have a width that is approximately equal to that of the forwardengagement member 61 (FIG. 3) with which it is designed to mate, withsome slight clearance provided for an accumulation of snow. Thus,engagement between the front engagement member 61 and sidewalls 519 ofthe boot recess advantageously prevents the front of the boot fromshifting from side-to-side when riding.

[0169]FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 35-35 of FIG.34. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 35, a supportmember or shank 521 is disposed in the sole of the boot above the recess517. The support member 521 stiffens the sole in the area above therecess, so that the sole does not sink down into the recess 517 underthe rider's weight. The shank 521 can be in the form of an insoleextending across the entire sole of the boot from the heel to toe. Theshank can for example, be formed from nylon at a thickness ofapproximately 2 mm, which is not sufficiently stiff to impact theability of the rider to walk in the boot, but which achieves the desiredgoal of preventing the sole in the area above the recess from sinking.Alternatively, the shank can extend across the full boot sole and have areduced thickness in areas other than that above the recess 517, or canjust be provided in that area.

[0170] Although the support member 521 provides the advantage discussedabove, it is not necessary to practice the invention. Other techniquesfor ensuring that the sole does not sink down into the recess 517 canalso be employed. For example, as is discussed more fully below, thestrapless forward engagement member can be provided with a geometry thatmatches that of the recess 517, such that the upper portion of theforward engagement member can sit flush against the top of the recess517, thereby supporting the boot sole in the area above the recess andpreventing it from sinking into the recess when riding. The provision ofa strapless engagement member having a geometry matching that of therecess 517 obviously provides no support for the recess 517 when therider is not engaged in the binding and is walking about. However,support is much less critical at this time, because the forces generatedon the recess 517 when walking are not nearly as great as thoseexperienced when riding. Thus, the rigidity of the thinned out outersole region 523 in the area above the recess should be sufficient toprevent the sole from sinking into the recess when walking. In thisrespect, the outer sole can be thinned in the region 523 toapproximately one mm, whereas the remainder of the outer sole 525 willhave a more normal thickness ranging anywhere from 2-16 mm.

[0171] An alternate embodiment of the mating feature in the boot sole isshown in FIGS. 36-37, wherein a flat bar 527 is attached to the sole ofthe boot in the recess 517. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG.37 (taken along line 37-37 of FIG. 36), this embodiment of the inventionalso employs a shank 521 in the sole of the boot to provide thestiffening feature discussed above. However, unlike the embodiment ofFIGS. 34-35, the bar that forms the mating member 527 is not embedded inthe sole, but rather, is attached to the shank 521 via a pair of screwsand T-nuts 529. As should be appreciated from the two embodimentsdescribed above, the mating feature attached to the sole of the bootneed not have any particular shape. It can be a bar that is round incross-section, a flat strip, or any other shape that enables the matingfeature to engage with a corresponding strapless engagement member onthe binding to hold down the forward portion of the boot when riding.For example, the mating feature need not be in the shape of a singlebar, and can include two or more hooks for engaging with a correspondingstrapless engagement member on the binding. Alternatively, thearrangement can be reversed so that the strapless engagement member onthe binding can be a bar, and the mating feature on the boot can be inthe form of a rear or forward facing hook. The present invention is notlimited to any specific implementation.

[0172] As seen from the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 35 and 37, in oneillustrative embodiment of the present invention, the mating featureattached to the sole of the boot does not extend below the outer bootsole 525, and therefore does not impact the feel of the boot when therider walks. It should be appreciated that in general, the lower themating member extends, the easier it is for the rider to engage with thestrapless engagement member on the binding. Thus, for the embodiments ofthe present invention wherein the mating member is implemented as ametal piece, it is desired to have the mating member extend justslightly above the bottom of the outer sole 525, such that the metalpiece does not touch the ground when the rider walks. However, asdiscussed below, the mating member need not be formed from a metalpiece, and can alternatively be formed from any of the materialsdiscussed above as being suitable for use in forming the straplessforward engagement member, e.g., glass filled nylon, rubber orpolyurethane. When formed from a non-metallic material, the matingfeature on the boot sole can extend down to the point where it is flushwith the bottom surface of the outer sole, such that it extends as lowas possible to facilitate engagement with the binding without beingnoticeable to the rider when walking.

[0173] An alternate arrangement of a strapless engagement member formounting to the binding and a corresponding mating feature in the bootsole is described making reference to FIGS. 38-40. FIG. 38 is a partialschematic view of the base plate 17 showing a strapless engagementmember 531 that is in the form of a sculpted toe hook. The toe hook 531can be formed integrally with the base plate 17 in a single injectionmolding process and positioned in the same manner as the straplessmembers discussed above. Alternatively, the toe hook 531 can be formedseparately from the base plate 17 to enable adjustment in the positionof the toe hook 531 along the length of the binding, in much the samemanner as the other embodiments discussed above.

[0174] FIGS. 39-40 illustrate a boot sole 513 that includes a matingfeature 533 that is adapted to engage with the sculpted toe hook 531 ofFIG. 38. In this embodiment of the invention, a support member 535 isdisposed within the outer boot sole 525 (as shown in the cross-sectionalview of FIG. 40, which is taken along line 40-40 of FIG. 39) and is notexposed by a recess in the outer boot sole 525. Rather, the matingfeature 533 includes an opening in the sole defined by a hollowed outcavity 537, including a rear-facing mouth 539, that is adapted toreceive the sculpted toe hook 531. The support member 535 is disposedbelow the cavity 537 and is adapted to support the outer sole 525 belowthe area wherein it is engaged by the sculpted toe hook 531. Inaddition, the boot sole may include a support member or shank 521 toprevent the sole from sinking in the area above the cavity 537 in muchthe same manner as the embodiments described above.

[0175] It should be understood that the support member 535 can bedisposed within the outer boot sole 525 in the same manner as thatdescribed above in connection with the bar 515 in FIGS. 34-35. Forexample, the support member 535 can be disposed in a mold for formingthe outer boot sole 525 and be embedded therein when the outer solematerial 525 is injected into the mold about the support member 535.

[0176] In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the dimensionsof the cavity 537 are selected to match those of the sculpted toe hook531, such that when the toe hook is inserted into the cavity, the toehook substantially fills the cavity, allowing some slight clearance foran accumulation of snow. In this manner, when the rider steps onto thebinding and engages the toe hook 531 within the cavity 537, the toe hooksupports the upper surface of the cavity to prevent it from sinkingunder the weight of the rider. Thus, in this embodiment of theinvention, the shank 521 can optionally be eliminated.

[0177] FIGS. 43-44 illustrate an alternate embodiment of a boot solemating feature 541 for engagement with a toe hook such as hook 531 shownin FIG. 38. The mating feature 541 is disposed within a recess 543disposed in the boot sole 513, so that the mating feature 541 does notextend below the bottom of the boot sole 513, and therefore, does notimpact the feel of the boot when the rider walks. The mating feature 541is attached to the bottom of the boot sole via a fastener, such as ascrew 545 that passes through an opening 546 in the mating feature andis received in a T-nut (not shown) in the boot sole. The mating feature541 also includes a pair of tabs 547 that are adapted to be received inrecessed portions (not shown) in the boot sole recess 543. The tabs 547serve to prevent the mating feature 541 from rotating about the screw545 during riding.

[0178] The mating feature 541 has a recessed top surface 549 that, whenthe mating feature 541 is attached to the boot sole recess 543, definesa cavity between the recessed surface 549 and a portion of the sole thatdefines the boot sole recess 543. The cavity has an opening 551 and isconfigured to receive a toe hook (such as the hook 531 shown in FIG. 38)in much the same manner as the cavity 537 (FIGS. 39-40) described above.

[0179] The mating feature 541 shown in FIGS. 43-44 is advantageous inthat it is detachable from the boot sole 513. Although attached to theboot sole via a single screw 545 in the embodiment shown in the figures,it should be understood that the invention is not limited in thisrespect. The detachable mating feature 541 can alternatively be attachedto the boot sole with multiple screws, or with any of a number of othertypes of fasteners.

[0180] It should be understood that in addition to holding down thefront portion of the boot, the toe strap in conventional strap bindingsalso provides downward pressure on the toes of the rider, providing afeel that many riders have become accustomed to. Thus, in one embodimentof the present invention, some mechanism is provided for providingcomparable toe pressure in conjunction with the bindings of the presentinvention, which eliminate the use of the toe strap. This mechanism can,for example, include a boot that employs a dual lace system, with oneset of laces controlling the manner in which the boot is tightened abovethe toe area, and the other set of laces controlling the tightening ofthe remainder of the boot. In this manner, the rider can tighten downthe lacing in the toe area more than the remainder of the boot, toprovide the desired toe pressure. Alternatively, a buckle and strap canbe provided along the boot overlying the toe area, and can be used totighten down the boot over the toes, thereby providing the desired toepressure. It should be understood that the present invention is notlimited to either of these particular implementations, or even to theproviding of some mechanism to increase toe pressure.

[0181] As should be appreciated from the foregoing, the variousillustrative embodiments of the boot in accordance with the presentinvention do not employ a large metal plate that is attached to the bootsole as in many conventional strapless bindings, and are as comfortableto walk in as traditional boots employed with strap bindings. In thisrespect, the above-described boots in accordance with the presentinvention can be used not only with a binding having a strapless forwardengagement member or engagement interface in accordance with the presentinvention, but can also be used in conjunction with a conventional strapbinding.

[0182] In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 41, the boot includes a plug 553 that covers the bootrecess and binding mating feature (e.g., recess 517 and rod 515 in theembodiment of FIGS. 34-35), so that those features of the boot are notexposed to snow, dirt, and the like when the boot is to be employed witha strap binding. In the illustrative example shown in FIG. 41, the plug553 is shown in connection with a boot of the type shown in FIGS. 34-35,with the rod 515 being shown in phantom as it is covered by the plug553. It should be understood that any of the other embodiments of a bootin accordance with the present invention can also include a plug such as553.

[0183] The plug 553 can be formed from the same material (e.g., rubber)as the outer sole of the boot, and can be formed integrally therewith.The border 555 of the plug 553 can be provided with a reduced thickness,thereby facilitating removal of the plug when the rider desires toexpose the mating member (e.g., the rod 515 in FIG. 34) for use with abinding having a strapless engagement member in accordance with thepresent invention. The border 555 is provided with a thickness (e.g.,0.5-1 mm) that is relatively thin in comparison to the portion of theouter sole 525 that surrounds the border and the remainder of the patch553. Thus, the border 555 will tear relatively easily so that the ridercan remove the patch 553 by simply grasping it with a pair of pliers andpulling to separate the patch along the border 555, or by carefullyusing a knife or other sharp instrument to cut the patch at the border.The patch 553 can be provided with a visual indicator identifying theborder 555 to facilitate removal of the patch.

[0184] In contrast with the embodiment of FIG. 41, wherein the boot isprovided with the mating feature (e.g., 515) underlying the patch, inanother illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 42, themating feature is not disposed under the patch 553. Rather, removal ofthe patch 553 reveals a mounting feature that is adapted to mount themating feature within the boot recess. In the illustrative example shownin FIG. 42, the mounting feature includes a pair of T-nuts 529 asdiscussed above in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 37. Thus, whenthe plug 553 is removed, the rider can insert the mating member (e.g.,the bar 527 in the embodiment of FIGS. 36-37) into the boot recess, andattach the mating member to the exposed mounting feature. For example,the bar 527 can be attached to the T-nuts 529 with a pair of screws inthe manner described above in connection with FIGS. 36-37. Thus, whenthe boot shown in FIG. 42 is used in connection with a strap binding,the boot advantageously does not have the mating member attachedthereto. Rather, it is only after the rider decides to employ the bootwith a binding including a strapless engagement member that the patch553 is removed, and the mating member is attached to the boot sole.

[0185] It should be understood that the particular mounting features 529shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 42 are provided merely forillustrative purposes. Other arrangements are possible. For example asingle T-nut 529 can be employed, as well as any other mounting featurecompatible with a similar or different type of mating feature. In thisrespect, the rider can use a single pair of boots to adapt with a strapbinding and with multiple types of bindings having different straplessengagement members by switching between different mating features to becompatible with the different types of strapless engagement members.

[0186] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 42, the mountingfeatures 529 are arranged to accommodate the mounting of the matingfeature in a single position. However, it should be appreciated that theboot can be provided with multiple mounting features that are arrangedto mount the mating feature in two or more spaced locations, therebyproviding the rider with some control over the precise positioning ofthe mating feature.

[0187] In the embodiments described above, it is contemplated that thepatch 553 would be disposable, and not reattachable to the boot sole,such that once the rider decides to switch from a boot having aconventional sole for operation with a strap binding to one that isadapted to mate with a binding including a strapless engagement member,the patch would not be reattached. However, in another embodiment of theinvention, it is contemplated that the patch 553 be reattachable to theboot sole after its removal. This can be done in any number of ways. Forexample, the patch can include a pair of screw holes adapted to receivescrews for engagement into the mounting feature in the sole thatreceives the binding engagement member (e.g., T-nuts 529 shown in FIG.42) to releasably engage the patch to the boot sole. Alternatively, theinner surface of the patch can include a pair of protrusions that aresized to fit within the T-nuts 529, such that the patch can bepress-fitted into engagement therewith. In addition, the boot sole canbe provided with a dedicated mounting feature, separate from thatemployed to mount the binding mating feature, to mount the reattachablepatch to the sole. Thus, a reattachable patch can be used to cover notonly the opening in the sole of the boot, but also the binding matingfeature mounted therein. These particular implementations are providedmerely for illustrative purposes, and it should be understood that thepresent invention is not limited to these or any other particularimplementation of a reattachable patch.

[0188] An alternate embodiment of the strapless engagement member isdisclosed in FIGS. 45-46. In this embodiment of the invention, thestrapless engagement member 571 includes a hook portion 573 that issimilar in many respects to the hook embodiments of the inventiondiscussed above. However, in the embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 45-46, the engagement member 571 is active (i.e., has a movableportion), so that the opening 575 between the hook portion 573 and a topsurface 17T of the base plate 17 can be altered from a larger openingsize when the strapless engagement member is in the open position shownin FIG. 45, to a smaller size when the engagement member 571 is in theclosed position shown in FIG. 46. Thus, the strapless engagement member571 has an open position wherein it is relatively easy for the rider toengage and disengage, and a closed position wherein the hook portion 573snugly engages the boot mating feature 576 (which can be implemented inany of a number of ways as discussed above) to tightly hold down theboot when riding.

[0189] The active strapless engagement member 571 can be implemented inany of a number of ways, and the present invention is not limited to theparticular implementation shown in FIGS. 45-46, which is provided merelyfor illustrative purposes. In the particular implementation shown in thefigures, the strapless engagement member 571 is biased upwardly via abiasing element (e.g., a spring) 577. A cam 579 is mounted to thebaseplate 17 for rotation about a pivot axis defined by a rod 581extending across the baseplate 17. A lever 583 is attached to one end ofthe rod 581 and can be used by the rider to rotate the shaft 581, andconsequently the cam 579 attached thereto. When the lever is rotateddownwardly from the open position shown in FIG. 45 to the closedposition shown in FIG. 46, the engagement between the cam 579 and theengagement member 571 causes the hook portion 573 to be pulleddownwardly to the position shown in FIG. 46, wherein the boot matingfeature 576 is tightly held between the hook portion 573 and the topsurface 17T of the baseplate. To open the strapless engagement member atthe end of a ride, the lever 583 is simply rotated in the reversedirection to the position shown in FIG. 45.

[0190] As mentioned above, the concept of the present invention relatedto the active strapless engagement member for actively engaging the bootmating feature is not limited to the particular implementation shown inthe figures, as numerous other implementations are possible. All that isnecessary is that some portion of the strapless engagement member bemoveable between an open position that facilitates engagement with theboot mating feature, and a closed position wherein the boot matingfeature is firmly held down.

[0191] Although the particular mating features of the boot and the patchdisclosed for use therewith have been described above for use inconnection with the types of bindings disclosed in this application, itshould be understood that these aspects of the present invention arealso not so limited, and that these features of the present inventioncan be employed with other types of bindings.

[0192] As mentioned above, the strapless forward engagement member inaccordance with the present invention can be implemented in any numberof ways. Although the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown inthe drawings each employs a strapless engagement member in the form of ahook, the present invention is not limited to these or any otherparticular implementations. Any arrangement that enables the boot to beheld down while still experiencing lateral foot roll can be employed,including arrangements that do not employ a hook on either the boot orbinding.

[0193] As discussed above, some embodiments of the present invention aredirected to a binding system including a rear engagement mechanism forholding down the heel of the snowboard boot, and an active forwardengagement mechanism for holding down the toe end of the boot. Each ofthe rear and forward engagement mechanisms may include a lever to movethe engagement mechanism between its open and closed positions. Inaccordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, abinding is provided with active rear and forward engagement mechanismsthat are linked to a single lever for manipulating both engagementmechanisms.

[0194] The above-described aspects of the present invention relating tostep-in snowboard bindings are advantageous because they provide forconvenient entry into and exit from the binding. However, in oneembodiment of the present invention, any of the above-described step-inbindings can also be provided with apertures (e.g., in the sidewalls ofthe baseplate) similar to those provided in conventional tray bindingsto enable one or more straps to be mounted to the binding so that thebinding can be used in the same manner as a tray binding. For example,the binding 301 of FIG. 15 can be employed without the interface 201,such that the rear latching mechanism would not be employed to hold downthe heel of the boot. Rather, an ankle strap could be mounted to thesidewall 307 to serve this purpose. Similar, engagement mechanism 407could be replaced by a toe strap. This feature of the present inventionprovides the rider with the option of converting the binding 301 into atray binding. It should be appreciated that this aspect of the presentinvention is not limited to use with the bindings described herein, andcan be employed with any step-in or other binding that does not employstraps to engage the boot to the binding.

[0195] It should be appreciated that different aspects of the presentinvention are directed to all aspects of a snowboard boot and bindingsystem, including aspects directed to a unique step-in binding, uniqueboot configurations, a unique interface system for interfacing asnowboard boot to a binding, aspects relating to a rear binding latchingmechanism, and aspects relating to numerous strapless forward engagementsystems for engaging a snowboard boot to a binding or interface.Although numerous of these aspects of the present invention areadvantageously employed together in accordance with the illustrativeembodiments of the invention shown in the drawings, the presentinvention is not limited in this respect, as each of these aspects ofthe present invention can also be employed separately. For example, thebinding aspects of the present invention can be employed to directlyengage a snowboard boot, rather than engaging a snowboard boot throughthe use of a separate interface, and can be employed separately. Forexample, any of the rear latching aspects of the present invention canbe employed with any of the forward latching aspects of the invention,or any other forward latching mechanism. Likewise, any of the forwardlatching aspects of the invention can be employed with any type of rearlatching mechansim, including some not disclosed herein. Similarly, theinterface aspects of the present invention can be employed with numeroustypes of bindings, and are not limited to use with the illustrativeembodiments disclosed herein.

[0196] Having just described several illustrative embodiments of theinvention, various alterations, modifications and improvements willreadily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations,modifications and improvements are intended to be in the spirit andscope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by wayof example only and is not intended as limiting. The invention islimited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalencethereto.

1. A system for mounting a rider to a snowboard, the system comprising:a snowboard boot having a sole including a heel area, an arch area and atoe area; a snowboard binding; a first engagement member; and a secondengagement member; wherein one of the first and second engagementmembers is mounted to the sole of the snowboard boot forward of the archarea and the other of the first and second engagement members is mountedto the binding; wherein the first engagement is adapted to mate with thesecond engagement member to releasably engage the snowboard boot to thebinding; and wherein the first engagement member is an active engagementmember that is movable between a first state wherein the firstengagement member does not engage the second engagement member and asecond state wherein the first engagement member engages the secondengagement member to inhibit lifting of the toe area of the boot fromthe binding during riding, and wherein the active engagement member isautomatically movable, in response to the rider stepping out of thebinding, from the second state to the first state.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the active engagement member is further automaticallymovable, in response to the rider stepping into the binding, from thefirst state to the second state, wherein the second engagement member isa cleat having a base mounted to one of the snowboard boot and thebinding, wherein the cleat further includes medial and lateral sides,and wherein at least one of the medial and lateral sides tapers inwardlyfrom a wider base-end portion of the cleat adjacent the base to anarrower free-end portion of the cleat away from the base.
 3. The systemof claim 2, wherein the first engagement member includes a pair ofspaced apart engagement members, and wherein the cleat further includesmedial and lateral shelves disposed adjacent the wider base-end portionof the cleat, each of the shelves being adapted to receive one of thepair of spaced apart engagement members.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein the at least one of the medial and lateral sides of the cleat isadapted to spread apart the pair of spaced apart engagement members asthe snowboard boot steps into engagement with the binding.
 5. The systemof claim 4, wherein the at least one of the medial and lateral sides ofthe cleat is adapted to spread apart the pair of spaced apart engagementmembers as one of the cleat and the pair of spaced apart engagementmembers is brought straight down on top of the other.
 6. The system ofclaim 3, wherein at least one of the medial and lateral shelves includesan outer base-facing lip that is adapted to retain the corresponding oneof the pair of spaced apart engagement members on the shelf.
 7. Thesystem of claim 3, wherein the second engagement member includes meansfor automatically spreading the pair of spaced apart engagement membersapart to release the cleat in response to the snowboard boot steppingout of engagement with the binding.
 8. The system of claim 7, whereineach of the first and second engagement members is adapted to underlie atoe area of the snowboard boot, and wherein the second engagement memberincludes means for resisting release from the pair of spaced apartengagement members in response to a lifting force generated at the toearea of the snowboard boot.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the activeengagement member is further automatically movable, in response to therider stepping into the binding, from the first state to the secondstate, wherein the second engagement member is a wedge-shaped cleathaving a base mounted to one of the snowboard boot and the binding, andwherein the wedge-shaped cleat has medial and lateral sides that eachtapers inwardly from a wider base-end portion of the cleat adjacent thebase to a narrower free-end portion of the cleat away from the base. 10.The system of claim 9, wherein the first engagement member includes apair of spaced apart engagement members, and wherein the cleat furtherincludes medial and lateral shelves disposed adjacent the wider base-endportion of the cleat, each of the shelves being adapted to receive oneof the pair of spaced apart engagement members.
 11. The system of claim10, wherein each of the medial and lateral sides of the cleat is adaptedto spread the pair of spaced apart engagement members apart as thesnowboard boot steps into engagement with the binding.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein each of the medial and lateral sides of the cleat isadapted to spread apart the pair of spaced apart engagement members asone of the cleat and the pair of spaced apart engagement members isbrought straight down on top of the other.
 13. The system of claim 11,wherein at least one of the medial and lateral shelves includes an outerbase-facing lip that is adapted to retain the corresponding one of thepair of spaced apart engagement members on the shelf.
 14. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the medial and lateral sides of the wedge-shaped cleateach further tapers along a length of the cleat from a wider toe-endportion of the cleat to a narrower heel-end portion of the cleat. 15.The system of claim 1, wherein the first engagement member is mounted tothe binding and the second engagement member is mounted to the snowboardboot.
 16. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one of the medialand lateral sides of the cleat is adapted to spread apart the pair ofspaced apart engagement members as the snowboard boot is stepped intoengagement with the binding.
 17. The system of claim 3, wherein at leastone of the pair of spaced apart engagement members is biased formovement toward the other.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein each ofthe pair of spaced apart engagement members is loop-shaped.
 19. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the first engagement member further includesat least one stop adapted to inhibit migration of the second engagementmember when engaged with the pair of spaced apart engagement members.20. The system of claim 19, wherein each of the pair of spaced apartengagement members is loop-shaped, and wherein the at least one stop hasa height that is less than a height of at least one of the pair ofspaced apart loop-shaped engagement members, so that the one of the pairof loop-shaped engagement members can flex over a top of the stop. 21.The system of claim 20, wherein each of the loop-shaped engagementmembers includes a loop having a length extending in a heel-to-toedirection, and wherein the at least one stop has a dimension extendingin the heel-to-toe direction that is less than the length of the loop,so that the loop can flex about the stop.
 22. The system of claim 21,wherein the pair of spaced apart engagement members is spaced apart by adistance, wherein the wider base-end portion of the cleat is wider thanthe distance, and wherein the narrower free-end portion of the cleat isnarrower than the distance.
 23. The system of claim 21, wherein themedial and lateral sides of the wedge-shaped cleat each further tapersalong a length of the cleat from a wider toe-end portion of the cleat toa narrower heel-end portion of the cleat, and wherein the wider toe-endportion of the cleat is wider than the distance and the narrowerheel-end portion of the cleat is narrower than the distance.
 24. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the medial and lateral sides of thewedge-shaped cleat each further tapers along a length of the cleat froma wider toe-end portion of the cleat to a narrower heel-end portion ofthe cleat.
 25. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of the pairof spaced apart engagement members is biased for movement toward theother.
 26. The system of claim 10, wherein the medial and lateral sidesof the wedge-shaped cleat each further tapers along a length of thecleat from a wider toe-end portion of the cleat to a narrower heel-endportion of the cleat.
 27. The system of claim 3, wherein the pair ofspaced apart engagement members is spaced apart by a distance, whereinthe wider base-end portion of the cleat is wider than the distance, andwherein the narrower free-end portion of the cleat is narrower than thedistance.
 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the medial and lateralsides of the wedge-shaped cleat each further tapers along a length ofthe cleat from a wider toe-end portion of the cleat to a narrowerheel-end portion of the cleat, and wherein the wider toe-end portion ofthe cleat is wider than the distance and the narrower heel-end portionof the cleat is narrower than the distance.
 29. The system of claim 3,wherein the medial and lateral sides of the wedge-shaped cleat eachfurther tapers along a length of the cleat from a wider toe-end portionof the cleat to a narrower heel-end portion of the cleat, and whereinthe wider toe-end portion of the cleat is wider than the distance andthe narrower heel-end portion of the cleat is narrower than thedistance.
 30. The system of claim 1, wherein the second engagementmember includes means for automatically moving the active engagementmember from its first state to its second state in response to the riderstepping into the binding.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the firstengagement member includes a pair of spaced apart engagement members,and wherein the second engagement member includes means forautomatically spreading the pair of spaced apart engagement membersapart to release the second engagement member in response to thesnowboard boot being stepped out of engagement with the binding.
 32. Thesystem of claim 31, wherein the first and second engagement members eachis adapted to underlie the toe area of the snowboard boot, and whereinthe second engagement member includes means for resisting release fromthe pair of spaced apart engagement members in response to a liftingforce generated at the toe area of the snowboard boot.
 33. A snowboardboot adapted for use with a binding to mount the snowboard boot to asnowboard, the binding including a pair of spaced apart engagementmembers, the snowboard boot comprising: a sole; and a cleat having abase that is supported by the sole, the cleat being adapted to bereleasably engaged by the pair of spaced apart engagement members, thecleat including medial and lateral sides, wherein at least one of themedial and lateral sides tapers inwardly from a wider base-end portionof the cleat adjacent the base to a narrower free-end portion of thecleat away from the base, the at least one of the medial and lateralsides being adapted to separate the pair of spaced apart engagementmembers when the snowboard boot steps into the binding.
 34. Thesnowboard boot of claim 33, wherein the cleat further includes medialand lateral shelves disposed adjacent the wider base-end portion of thecleat, each of the shelves being adapted to receive one of the pair ofspaced apart engagement members.
 35. The snowboard boot of claim 33,wherein the sole includes a heel area, an arch area and a toe area, andwherein the cleat is mounted to the sole of the snowboard boot forwardof the arch area.
 36. The snowboard boot of claim 33, wherein the atleast one of the medial and lateral sides of the cleat is adapted tospread apart the pair of spaced apart engagement members as the cleat isbrought straight down on top of the pair of spaced apart engagementmembers.
 37. The snowboard boot of claim 34, wherein at least one of themedial and lateral shelves includes an outer base-facing lip that isadapted to retain the corresponding one of the pair of spaced apartengagement members on the shelf.
 38. The snowboard boot of claim 33,wherein the cleat includes means for automatically spreading the pair ofspaced apart engagement members apart to release the cleat in responseto the snowboard boot stepping out of engagement with the binding. 39.The snowboard boot of claim 38, wherein the cleat underlies a toe areaof the snowboard boot, and wherein the cleat further includes means forresisting release from the pair of spaced apart engagement members inresponse to a lifting force generated at the toe area of the snowboardboot.
 40. The snowboard boot of claim 33, wherein the cleat iswedge-shaped, and wherein the wedge-shaped cleat has medial and lateralsides that each tapers inwardly from the wider base-end portion of thecleat to the narrower free-end portion of the cleat.
 41. The snowboardboot of claim 40, wherein each of the medial and lateral sides of thecleat is adapted to spread the pair of spaced apart engagement membersapart as the snowboard boot steps into the binding.
 42. The snowboardboot of claim 41, wherein each of the medial and lateral sides of thecleat is adapted to spread apart the pair of spaced apart engagementmembers as the cleat is brought straight down on top of the pair ofspaced apart engagement members.
 43. The snowboard boot of claim 40,wherein the cleat further includes medial and lateral shelves disposedadjacent the wider base-end portion of the cleat, each of the shelvesbeing adapted to receive one of the pair of spaced apart engagementmembers, and wherein at least one of the medial and lateral shelvesincludes an outer base-facing lip that is adapted to retain thecorresponding one of the pair of spaced apart engagement members on theshelf.
 44. The snowboard boot of claim 33, wherein the at least one ofthe medial and lateral sides of the cleat further tapers along a lengthof the cleat from a wider toe-end portion of the cleat to a narrowerheel-end portion of the cleat.
 45. The snowboard boot of claim 33,wherein the pair of spaced apart engagement members is spaced apart by adistance, and wherein the wider base-end portion of the cleat is widerthan the distance, and wherein the narrower free-end portion of thecleat is narrower than the distance.
 46. The snowboard boot of claim 45,wherein the pair of spaced apart engagement members is spaced apart by adistance, wherein the cleat further tapers along a length of the cleatfrom a wider toe-end portion of the cleat to a narrower heel-end portionof the cleat, and wherein the wider toe-end portion of the cleat iswider than the distance and the narrower heel-end portion of the cleatis narrower than the distance.
 47. The snowboard boot of claim 35,wherein the cleat underlies a toe area of the snowboard boot.
 48. Thesnowboard boot of claim 33, wherein the cleat further tapers along alength of the cleat from a wider toe-end portion of the cleat to anarrower heel-end portion of the cleat, and wherein the wider toe-endportion of the cleat is wider than the distance and the narrowerheel-end portion of the cleat is narrower than the distance.
 49. Thesnowboard boot of claim 34, wherein the cleat further includes medialand lateral shelves disposed adjacent the wider base-end portion of thecleat, each of the shelves being adapted to receive one of the pair ofspaced apart engagement members.
 50. The snowboard boot of claim 40,wherein the medial and lateral sides of the cleat each further tapersalong a length of the cleat from a wider toe-end portion of the cleat toa narrower heel-end portion of the cleat.
 51. A snowboard boot adaptedfor use with a binding to mount the snowboard boot to a snowboard, thebinding including a first engagement member, the snowboard bootcomprising: a sole; and a second engagement member supported by thesole, the second engagement member including engagement means forreleasably engaging the first engagement member, the engagement meansincluding means for automatically disengaging from the first engagementmember in response to the snowboard boot stepping out of engagement withthe binding.
 52. The snowboard boot of claim 51, wherein the secondengagement member further includes means for automatically engaging thefirst engagement member in response to the snowboard boot stepping intothe binding, and wherein the second engagement member underlies a toearea of the snowboard boot.
 53. The snowboard boot of claim 52, whereinthe engagement means further includes means for resisting release fromthe first engagement member in response to a lifting force generated atthe toe area of the snowboard boot.
 54. A snowboard binding to mount asnowboard boot to a snowboard, the snowboard boot including a firstengagement member, the snowboard binding comprising: a base; and asecond engagement member, mounted to the base, that is adapted to matewith the first engagement member to releasably engage the snowboard bootto the binding, the second engagement member being an active engagementmember that is movable between a first state wherein the secondengagement member does not engage the first engagement member and asecond state wherein the second engagement member engages the firstengagement member to inhibit lifting of the boot from the binding duringriding, and wherein the active engagement member is automaticallymovable, in response to the rider stepping out of the binding, from thesecond state to the first state.
 55. The snowboard binding of claim 54,wherein the active engagement member is further automatically movable,in response to the rider stepping into the binding, from the first stateto the second state, wherein the first engagement member includes acleat having a base mounted to a sole of the snowboard boot and medialand lateral sides, and wherein the second engagement member includes apair of spaced apart engagement members each adapted to engage one ofthe medial and lateral sides of the cleat.
 56. The snowboard binding ofclaim 55, wherein the pair of spaced apart engagement members is adaptedto be spread apart as the snowboard boot steps into engagement with thebinding.
 57. The snowboard binding of claim 55, wherein each of the pairof spaced apart engagement members extends in a substantiallyheel-to-toe direction along a length of the binding.
 58. The snowboardbinding of claim 55, wherein the second engagement member is adapted tounderlie a toe area of the snowboard boot, and wherein the secondengagement member includes means for resisting release of the cleat fromthe pair of spaced apart engagement members in response to a liftingforce generated at the toe area of the snowboard boot.
 59. The snowboardbinding of claim 55, wherein at least one of the pair of spaced apartengagement members is biased for movement toward the other.
 60. Thesnowboard binding of claim 55, wherein each of the pair of spaced apartengagement members is loop-shaped.
 61. The snowboard binding of claim55, wherein the second engagement member further includes at least onestop adapted to inhibit migration of the cleat when engaged with thepair of spaced apart engagement members.
 62. The snowboard binding ofclaim 61, wherein each of the pair of spaced apart engagement members isloop-shaped, and wherein the at least one stop has a height that is lessthan a height of at least one of the pair of spaced apart loop-shapedengagement members, so that the one of the pair of loop-shapedengagement members can flex over a top of the stop.
 63. The snowboardbinding of claim 62, wherein each of the loop-shaped engagement membersincludes a loop having a length extending in a heel-to-toe direction,and wherein the at least one stop has a dimension extending in theheel-to-toe direction that is less than the length of the loop, so thatthe loop can flex about the stop.
 64. The snowboard binding of claim 55,wherein the cleat has a wider base-end portion and a narrower free-endportion, and wherein the pair of spaced apart engagement members isspaced apart by a distance that is greater than the narrower free-endportion of the cleat and smaller than the wider base-end portion of thecleat.
 65. The snowboard binding of claim 64, wherein each of the medialand lateral sides of the cleat further tapers along a length of thecleat from a wider toe-end portion of the cleat to a narrower heel-endportion of the cleat, and wherein the pair of spaced apart engagementmembers is spaced apart by a distance that is greater than the narrowerheel-end portion of the cleat and smaller than the wider toe-end portionof the cleat.
 66. The snowboard binding of claim 55, wherein each of thepair of spaced apart engagement members is biased for movement towardthe other.
 67. The snowboard binding of claim 66, wherein each of thepair of spaced apart engagement members is loop-shaped.
 68. Thesnowboard binding of claim 54, wherein the first engagement member isdisposed to underlie a toe area of the snowboard boot.
 69. The snowboardbinding of claim 64, wherein each of the pair of spaced apart engagementmembers is loop-shaped.
 70. The snowboard binding of claim 69, whereinat least one of the pair of spaced apart engagement members is biasedfor movement toward the other.
 71. The snowboard binding of claim 65,wherein each of the pair of spaced apart engagement members isloop-shaped.
 72. The snowboard binding of claim 71, wherein at least oneof the pair of spaced apart engagement members is biased for movementtoward the other.
 73. The snowboard binding of claim 55, wherein each ofthe medial and lateral sides of the cleat tapers along a length of thecleat from a wider toe-end portion of the cleat to a narrower heel-endportion of the cleat, and wherein the pair of spaced apart engagementmembers is spaced apart by a distance that is greater than the narrowerheel-end portion of the cleat and smaller than the wider toe-end portionof the cleat.
 74. A method of interfacing a first engagement member on asnowboard boot with a second engagement member on a snowboard bindingthat is engageable with the first engagement member to mount thesnowboard boot to a snowboard, wherein at least one of the first andsecond engagement members is an active engagement member that ismoveable between an open position and a closed position, the methodcomprising a step of: (A) stepping the snowboard boot out of thesnowboard binding so that the active engagement member automaticallymoves from the closed position to the open position without operating alever on the snowboard boot or the snowboard binding, so that the firstengagement member is disengaged from the second engagement member. 75.The method of claim 74, further comprising a step of: (B) stepping thesnowboard boot into the snowboard binding so that the active engagementmember automatically moves between the open and closed positions withoutoperating a lever on the snowboard boot or the snowboard binding, sothat the first engagement member engages with the second engagementmember.
 76. The method of claim 74, wherein the step (B) includes a stepof stepping the snowboard boot into the snowboard binding so that thefirst engagement member is brought substantially straight down on top ofthe second engagement member.
 77. The method of claim 74, wherein thesnowboard boot includes a sole having a heel area, an arch area and atoe area, wherein the first engagement member is mounted on the toe areaof the sole, and wherein the step (A) includes a step of stepping thesnowboard boot out of the snowboard binding by first lifting the heelarea of the sole away from the snowboard binding and pivoting thesnowboard boot forward about the toe area of the sole.